Pupillometry in Research Applications

Researchers in many fields have long used pupillometry to measure the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, measure the metabolism of drugs, detect drug impairment and fatigue, and many other applications in both humans and animals . NeurOptics makes pupillometers which are important research tools for researchers in the areas listed below and many others:

• Anesthesiology and Pain
• Autonomic Neuroscience
• Critical Care and Emergency Medicine
• Defense and Space
• Drug Impairment
• Drug Addiction
• Endocrinology/Diabetes
• Gastroenterology
• Geriatrics
• Marketing/Advertising
• Nutrition
• Otolaryngology
• Pharmacology
• Physical Therapy/Chiropractic
• Psychiatry
• Refractive Surgery/LASIK
• Rheumatology
• Sleep Science (fatigue, sleep disorders)

To view recent journal references related to the pupil for research in your field of interest, visit our Stark Pupil Library.

NeurOptics portable technology now enables scientists to expand the research environment beyond the walls of the lab, limited only by the imagination of the researcher.

The PLR-200™ Pupillometer, a hand-held and cordless device which measures pupil size and dynamics, is extremely accurate and easy to use and can be taken into the field. It can be used for either a static pupil measurement protocol (i.e., reporting pupil size measurements such as weighted average pupil size and standard deviation) as well as a dynamic pupil measurement protocol (i.e., reporting pupil light reflex measurements including: Maximum pupil size, minimum pupil size, percent constriction, average constriction velocity, maximum constriction velocity, 75% recovery time, and dilation velocity. The user can adjust the light stimulus intensity and duration. Numerical results are displayed on a color LCD. Measurements may also be printed to a portable printer via infrared (wirelessly).

Our pupillometers store measurement results in memory so recent measurements may be reviewed later on the LCD and printed, if desired. The PLR-200™ Pupillometer for Research also includes iDecoder software which enables the user to upload the data to any infrared enabled laptop/PC and then transfer to Excel or Matlab, etc.

NeurOptics pupillometers, which use infrared imaging technology, are so easy to use that a technician can take measurements after only 5-10 minutes of training and a little practice. They require no calibration whatsoever by the user. Our pupillometers reduce the effect of the phenomenon of "hippus" (pupillary unrest) by taking measurements for 3 seconds and reporting on maximum size, minimum size, and standard deviation rather than relying on a single snapshot measurement at a given moment in time which could catch the pupil at a high or low point in its natural cycle. Our pupillometers also automatically calibrate for vertex distance (the distance from the pupillometer lens to the front of the subject's eye). The vertex distance can vary significantly between subjects and affects the accuracy of the measurement.

In addition to our hand-held infrared pupillometers for research, we offer a PC-based binocular desktop pupillometer, the DP-1000 Pupillometer for Research, with additional functionality. The binocular/dual camera system measures both eyes at once. With 9 different levels of stimulus, it stimulates the direct, consensual, or both eyes simultaneously. The device saves the pupil trajectory and light stimulus data in a file for external/independent analysis and saves the automatic analysis data into a file for comparison/database entry.

For those researchers studying disease models or looking at the pharmacological effects of the eye and the autonomic nervous system in animals , we also make a small animal pupillometer (A-1000). We offer a rodent (mice/rat) version as well as a rabbit version of this device. This PC-based pupillometer, for use in small animals, is a two-camera (binocular) system with two channels of independently controlled visible light sources and infrared illumination.

We are also available to discuss customized devices for both humans and animals as well as other devices for other species.

To view or download Instructions for Use, click here for the PLR-200 and click here for the PLR-2000 which allows continous pupil recording for up to 10 minutes (without light stimulus).

Instructional Video