Abstract
Background
In order to measure blinking, we developped a dynamic device consisting of a CCD camera connected to a videonystagmography machine. We developed an artificial pupil that allowed the camera to track movements of the upper eyelid.
Methods
Blinking parameters were measured in eight healthy volunteers, studying spontaneous blinking (SB) and voluntary blinking (VB) responses. Closing time, opening time, closing speed, vertical amplitude, horizontal amplitude and frequency of spontaneous blinking were recorded.
Results
In SB, opening time (0.21 ± 0.04 s) was significantly longer than closing time (0.10 ± 0.02 s) (p < 0.0001). Mean closing speed was 87 ± 26 m/s in SB and 168 ± 59 m/s in VB. Mean vertical amplitude was 9.1 ± 2.2 mm. Mean vertical amplitude was lower in SB (9.1 ± 2.2 mm) than in VB (12.3 ± 1.9 mm) (p < 0.001). Mean horizontal amplitude was also lower in SB (2.7 ± 0.9 mm) than in VB (3.8 ± 0.9 mm) (p < 0.05). Frequency of SB was 18.4 ± 3.4 per minute.
Conclusions
Computer-assisted video acquisition provides real-time measurement of eyeblink dynamics. On healthy volunteers, this method enables accurate measurement of opening and closing responses as well as associated horizontal movement, and enables differentiating spontaneous and voluntary blinking.
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Acknowledgements
AMADYS, Le Gorvello, 56250 Sulniac, France, for its financial support; Benoît Marin, Unité Fonctionnelle en Recherche Clinique et Biostatistiques, Limoges Medical University, for his technical assistance.
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No author has any type of financial interest that is related to the manuscript, including stock or ownership of a business entity connected to a product described in the paper, paid consulting for the company or competing companies, or patent rights to a drug or piece of equipment. No author has neither personal nor family ownership or potential rights to more than 1% of the company or competing company nor any interest in marketing any product, drug, instrument, or piece of equipment discussed in the manuscript. The authors have full control of all primary data, and they agree to allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data if requested.
Financial support: AMADYS (Association des Malades Atteints de Dystonie), Le Gorvello, 56250 Sulniac, France.
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Casse, G., Sauvage, JP., Adenis, JP. et al. Videonystagmography to assess blinking. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 245, 1789–1796 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0611-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0611-8