An Eye Tracking Analysis on Diagnostic Performance of Digital Fundus Photography Images between Ophthalmologists and Optometrists

To investigate the parameters of eye movement between ophthalmologists and optometrists while diagnosing digital fundus photographs, sixteen participants (eight ophthalmologists and eight optometrists) were recruited in this study. Every participant’s eye movement during diagnosis of a randomized set of fundus photographs displayed on an eye tracker were recorded. Fixation metrics (duration, count and rate) and scan path patterns were extracted from the eye tracker. These parameters of eye movement and correct diagnosis score were compared between both groups. Correlation analyses between fixation metrics and correct diagnosis score were also performed. Although fixation metrics between ophthalmologists and optometrists were not statistically different (p > 0.05), these parameters were statistically different when compared between different area of interests. Both participant groups had a similar correct diagnosis score. No correlation was found between fixation metrics and correct diagnosis score between both groups, except for total fixation duration and ophthalmologists’ diagnosis score of diabetic retinopathy photographs. The ophthalmologists’ scan paths were simpler, with larger saccades, and were distributed at the middle region of the photographs. Conversely, optometrists’ scan paths were extensive, with shorter saccades covering wider fundus areas, and were accumulated in some unrelated fundus areas. These findings indicated comparable efficiency and systematic visual search patterns between both the groups. Understanding visual search strategy could expedite the creation of a novel training routine for interpretation of ophthalmic diagnostic imaging.