Distance between the pupils, called interpupillary distance (IPD), is an important clinical measure used to identify potential vision issues such as stereo acuity,
1 near point convergence,
2 accommodation,
3 and other vision-related issues.
4 Furthermore, normative IPD data is important in the optical industry when fitting patients for glasses. IPD is measured using the distance between the centers of the pupils.
5,6
Diameter of the pupil (PD) is another component of the eye that is measured and is related to image quality. A larger pupil will allow more peripheral rays into the eye, resulting in high-order monochromatic aberrations that pose a problem with image quality when the PD is large.
7 A limitation of very small pupils can be diffraction; however, this problem is less significant than the aberrations in larger pupil sizes as demonstrated by Howland and Howland.
8 Depth of focus is related to pupil size. Smaller pupils allow an increase in depth of focus, which in turn reduces the effect of refractive errors and errors in accommodation such as accommodative lag on the quality (blur) of the retinal image.
9
Interpupillary distance and PD influence many vision components that are important in activities of daily living (ADLs) as well as peak performance in athletes and fighter pilots. For instance, IPD determines the amount of stereo separation of two images that are combined in the brain to produce stereo perception.
10,11 Stereo perception is important in rapid three-dimensional processing involved in driving a vehicle and catching a ball. It is therefore important to be able to measure these metrics reliability and accurately and to determine normative data against which a person can be measured.
Numerous methods have been used in the measurement of IPD; Viktorins method, pupilometers, and corneal reflection are each commonly used in clinical settings. Viktorins method uses a hand measure of IPD by measuring the distance between certain features in the eye. Pupilometers are handheld ophthalmological devices that measure distance between the pupils by aligning the device with the corneal reflexes of the participant. Corneal reflection, the method used in the present study, measures the distance between the pupils through the reflection of infrared light on the eyes.
Various inaccuracies in these measurement processes have been discussed, including parallax error (a large difference between the IPD of observer and participant), incorrect spacing between the participant and the observer, and/or incorrect positioning of measurement tools.
5 Obstfeld and Chou
12 examined nine of the leading pupilometers and found an average of 2.3-mm error (SD = 0.26 mm). Sources of error were poor eye relief in all pupilometers and friction in the scale adjustments. However, the pupilometers were found to give consistent readings (i.e., were reliable) within the limits of clinically acceptable parameters. However, the accuracy (i.e., the validity) was questioned, especially in IPDs that were especially large or small. Viktorins method and pupilometer measurements have been criticized for lack of examination of reliability, and in the few studies where reliability has been examined, results have revealed poor reliability.
5 One possible reason for low reliability may not reside in the instruments themselves but in the technician's difficulty using such instruments.
13
Numerous methods have been used in the measurement of PD, such as lens systems with millimeter scales (e.g., Colvard; Oasis Medical, Glendora, CA); dynamic and binocular PD measurements using infrared light (e.g., P2000SA; Procyon Instruments, London, UK); and wavelength aberrometers based on the Hartmann-Shack principle (e.g., WASCA; Asclepion-Meditec-Zeiss, Jena, Germany). In a study by Schmitz et al.,
14 pairwise comparison between the lens systems, infrared light, and wavelength aberrometers showed statistically significant (
P < 0.05) differences in median deviations. Authors argue, however, that these differences (ranging up to 1 mm) were not clinically significant.
The form of comparison method employed by the Rosenbaum Pocket Vision Screener (RPVS) was first described in 1863 by Follin.
15 It is still a widely used method of measuring pupil size in clinical practice.
16 It is a low-cost alternative to the lens systems, infrared systems, and aberrometers. The RPVS is a commonly used tool to measure pupil diameter (PD) for nonsurgical patients.
17
Pupil diameter has also been measured using infrared eye trackers
18 (e.g., Tobii X120, Tobii T120; Tobii Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, and Eye Link 1000; SR Research, Kanata, Canada). Brisson et al.
18 found that pupil size can be over- and underestimated in infrared eye trackers depending on gaze position. When the eyes are positioned straight ahead, the pupil is most accurately measured, ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 mm, depending on the eye tracker, with the Eye Link 1000 producing the best results. When the eyes look away from the center, systematic errors occur in measuring PD as the pupil appears squashed. When looking straight ahead, the pupil appears circular, therefore providing the most accurate PD readings. When using a chin–forehead rest, results were even more accurate (<0.3 mm). Nevertheless, the reliability (repeatability) and validity (accuracy) is questionable and requires further examination of both the tool and the stimuli used to examine the PD readings before results can be considered with confidence.
Interpupillary distance and PD differ based on various demographic considerations. Dodgson
10 used data from the Anthropometric Survey of United States Army Personnel database, consisting of 3976 participant, aged 17–51, and investigated population norms for IPDs. Dodgson suggested that although a mean IPD of the population was proposed as 63.36 mm, this value was inaccurate when analyzed for ethnicity, sex, and age. Significant differences were identified between ethnic groups for mean IPD, which was attributed to various physiological differences among ethnicities. Sex differences were also found, with males demonstrating significantly greater IPDs than females.
6,10 Interpupillary distance has also been shown to change significantly with age until approximately 30 years of age, with most change occurring in the first 19 years of life.
19 Given that IPD is influenced by ethnicity, sex, and age, it would appear prudent that these characteristics be identified within research to avoid inconsistent results due to potential confounding variables. Pupil diameter has also shown to vary based on age,
20,21 sex,
22 and ethnicity.
23
The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the reliability of IPD and PD measures using an infrared eye tracker (120 Hz; TeHow, Germany) and central point stimuli (designed by RightEye, LLC, Bethesda, MD); (2) to examine the validity of the RightEye IPD Test compared to the PL850 Pupilometer (Hilco, Plainville, MA) and the Essilor Digital CRP (DAES03-001; Essilor, Charenton-le-Pont, France) for IPD, and the RPVS for PD measures (3908 Pocket Eye Chart; Medisave, Stratford, CT); (3) to establish normative data for which individuals can measure themselves.