# Analysis of Saccade Characteristics During Fusional Vergence Tests in Normal Binocular Vision Participants

## TL;DR

This study examines how saccades, or quick eye movements, change during tests of binocular vision in people with normal vision.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how saccade characteristics differ under varying disparity vergence demands during fusional vergence tests.

## Key findings

- Saccade amplitudes during positive and negative fusional vergence tests differ significantly.
- Saccades during diplopia have larger amplitudes compared to those during maintained fusion.
- Saccade direction distributions during PFV and NFV are statistically different.

## Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyze, characterize, and compare the measurements of saccades that occurred during the positive and negative fusional vergence test (PFV and NFV, respectively) as a function of the disparity vergence demand. Thirty-four participants’ PFV and NFV amplitudes were measured in a haploscopic setup, recording eye movements with an Eyelink 1000 Plus (SR Research). The visual stimulus was a column of letters. Break and recovery points were determined objectively offline, and saccades were detected with a velocity-threshold-based method. A total of 13,103 and 14,381 saccades were detected during the measurement of the PFV and NFV ranges, respectively. Saccades followed the main sequence (ρ = 0.97, p < 0.001). The distributions of saccadic amplitudes during PFV and NFV differed significantly (U = 4.28, p < 0.001). The amplitude of saccades that occurred while fusion was maintained (median (IQR) 0.73 (0.92) deg) was significantly smaller than that of saccades during diplopia (2.10 (3.90) deg) (U = −75.63, p < 0.001). The distributions of saccade direction during the measurement of PFV and NFV amplitudes were statistically significantly different (p < 0.01). These findings contribute to a better understanding of how the visual system adjusts saccades in response to different disparity vergence demand during fusional vergence amplitudes evaluation.