Handmade Infrared Rays Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (IR-CMOS) Camera for Recording Eye Movements

ABSTRACT

It is important to observe eye movements in order to evaluate peripheral or central vestibular disorders in dizzy patients. An infrared rays charge coupling device (IR-CCD) camera is now widely used in daily practice. The technical advantage of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) now allows us to develop an inexpensive handmade camera for carrying out nystagmus recordings.

We developed a handmade IR-CMOS camera at a reasonable cost of less than $150. The costs of a small IRCMOS camera, scuba diving goggles, an AC adapter, an audiovisual (AV) cord, and a plastic board with a thickness of 0.5 mm were $60, $60, $10, $10, and $10, respectively. It takes almost an hour to assemble the camera. We recorded eye movements using this camera.

The image obtained using this inexpensive handmade camera was clear and highly comparable to that obtained using a conventional IR-CCD camera.

The handmade IR-CMOS camera is inexpensive, easy to develop, and can be effectively used in daily practice. In future, with technical developments in electronics, we intend to develop a more compact and high-quality camera for recording eye movements.