Ocular tremor (ocular microtremor) is a constant, involuntary eye tremor of a low amplitude and high frequency. It is a type of fixational eye movement that occurs in all normal people, even when the eye appears still. [1] The frequency of ocular microtremor has been found to range from 30 Hz to 103 Hz, and the amplitude is approximately four thousandths of a degree. [1] [2]
Human eyes are constantly moving, even if they appear to be focused on an object. [1] These constant oscillations are called fixational eye movements, and they include ocular microtremor, microsaccades, and drift. [1] [3] Ocular tremor is the smallest of these movements, and it often overlaps with drift. [1] [3] This makes it the most difficult fixational eye movement to measure. [1] [3] Due to these difficulties in measurement, fewer studies have been performed on ocular microtremor, [1] [3] leading to the phenomenon of ocular tremor not being well-understood. [1] [3]
Researchers are not entirely sure of the cause of ocular microtremor. [1] It may be a result from the firing of motor neurons at different times. [1] [4] It has also been suggested that ocular tremor is a result of the eye being balanced between opposing muscles. [1]
Ocular microtremor is smaller than the other fixational eye movements of microsaccades and drift. [1] [3] It occurs between microsaccades, during the same time intervals as drift. [1] [3] The measured frequency and amplitude of ocular tremor have been found to vary. [1] [2] [3] The frequency typically falls between 30 Hz and 103 Hz, while the amplitude has been measured to be approximately four thousandths of a degree. [3] [1] [2]
Specific tools, known as piezoelectric probes or piezoelectric strain gauges, are commonly used to measure ocular microtremor. [1] A local anesthetic is used for both of these invasive methods, because contact with the sclera is required. [1] While non-contact methods of measuring ocular tremor have been found, they are not typically used due to their low resolution. [1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Alexander RG, Martinez-Conde S (2019). "Fixational Eye Movements". In Klein C, Ettinger U (eds.). Eye Movement Research: An Introduction to its Scientific Foundations and Applications. Studies in Neuroscience, Psychology and Behavioral Economics. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 73–115. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-20085-5_3. ISBN 978-3-030-20085-5.
- ^ a b c Shakhnovich AR (1977). "Fixation Movements of the Eyes". The Brain and Regulation of Eye Movement. Boston, MA: Springer US. pp. 23–66. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4684-6964-6_2. ISBN 978-1-4684-6966-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Alexander RG, Macknik SL, Martinez-Conde S (2018-03-13). "Microsaccade Characteristics in Neurological and Ophthalmic Disease". Frontiers in Neurology. 9: 144. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00144. PMC 5859063. PMID 29593642.
- ^ Skalicky, Simon E. (2016), "Neural Control of Eye Movements", Ocular and Visual Physiology, Singapore: Springer Singapore, pp. 251–270, doi: 10.1007/978-981-287-846-5_18, ISBN 978-981-287-845-8
Ocular tremor (ocular microtremor) is a constant, involuntary eye tremor of a low amplitude and high frequency. It is a type of fixational eye movement that occurs in all normal people, even when the eye appears still. [1] The frequency of ocular microtremor has been found to range from 30 Hz to 103 Hz, and the amplitude is approximately four thousandths of a degree. [1] [2]
Human eyes are constantly moving, even if they appear to be focused on an object. [1] These constant oscillations are called fixational eye movements, and they include ocular microtremor, microsaccades, and drift. [1] [3] Ocular tremor is the smallest of these movements, and it often overlaps with drift. [1] [3] This makes it the most difficult fixational eye movement to measure. [1] [3] Due to these difficulties in measurement, fewer studies have been performed on ocular microtremor, [1] [3] leading to the phenomenon of ocular tremor not being well-understood. [1] [3]
Researchers are not entirely sure of the cause of ocular microtremor. [1] It may be a result from the firing of motor neurons at different times. [1] [4] It has also been suggested that ocular tremor is a result of the eye being balanced between opposing muscles. [1]
Ocular microtremor is smaller than the other fixational eye movements of microsaccades and drift. [1] [3] It occurs between microsaccades, during the same time intervals as drift. [1] [3] The measured frequency and amplitude of ocular tremor have been found to vary. [1] [2] [3] The frequency typically falls between 30 Hz and 103 Hz, while the amplitude has been measured to be approximately four thousandths of a degree. [3] [1] [2]
Specific tools, known as piezoelectric probes or piezoelectric strain gauges, are commonly used to measure ocular microtremor. [1] A local anesthetic is used for both of these invasive methods, because contact with the sclera is required. [1] While non-contact methods of measuring ocular tremor have been found, they are not typically used due to their low resolution. [1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Alexander RG, Martinez-Conde S (2019). "Fixational Eye Movements". In Klein C, Ettinger U (eds.). Eye Movement Research: An Introduction to its Scientific Foundations and Applications. Studies in Neuroscience, Psychology and Behavioral Economics. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 73–115. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-20085-5_3. ISBN 978-3-030-20085-5.
- ^ a b c Shakhnovich AR (1977). "Fixation Movements of the Eyes". The Brain and Regulation of Eye Movement. Boston, MA: Springer US. pp. 23–66. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4684-6964-6_2. ISBN 978-1-4684-6966-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Alexander RG, Macknik SL, Martinez-Conde S (2018-03-13). "Microsaccade Characteristics in Neurological and Ophthalmic Disease". Frontiers in Neurology. 9: 144. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00144. PMC 5859063. PMID 29593642.
- ^ Skalicky, Simon E. (2016), "Neural Control of Eye Movements", Ocular and Visual Physiology, Singapore: Springer Singapore, pp. 251–270, doi: 10.1007/978-981-287-846-5_18, ISBN 978-981-287-845-8