Eye tracking

A screenshot taken from the Eye Tracking Device used to record astronaut eye movement and now used in most laser surgeries.

A series of experiments to measure astronauts’ eye movements was performed as astronauts worked on the International Space Station. Researchers needed a robust method to track the eyes without interfering with the astronaut’s normal work. The answer came in the form of a helmet feeding high-performance image-processing chips similar to those found in consumer cameras.

In parallel with its use on the Space Station, engineers realised that the Eye Tracking Device had potential for applications on Earth. Tracking the eye’s position without interfering with the surgeon’s work is essential in laser surgery. The space technology proved ideal.

Now this eye-tracking equipment is being used in a large proportion of corrective laser surgeries throughout the world.