Øyebevegelse

Øyebevegelse, or the movement of the eyeballs, encompasses the voluntary and reflexive motions that align the fovea with objects of interest. These movements support gaze stabilization, depth perception, and dynamic viewing during motion and reading. Major types include saccades, rapid shifts between targets; smooth pursuit, gradual tracking of a moving object; and vergence movements, which adjust eye alignment for binocular depth perception by converging or diverging. The vestibulo-ocular reflex stabilizes the visual field during head movements, while microsaccades occur during fixation to refresh the retinal image.

Eye movements are produced by the extraocular muscles and coordinated by cranial nerves III, IV, and VI. Neural control involves brainstem oculomotor nuclei and higher centers such as the frontal eye fields, parietal eye fields, superior colliculus, and cerebellum, enabling initiation, accuracy, and adaptation of gaze.

Clinically, oculomotor function can be assessed with cover tests, saccade and pursuit tests, and VOR assessment. Laboratory methods include infrared eye-tracking and scleral search coils to measure eye position with high precision.

Abnormal eye movements may indicate neurological or ophthalmic conditions. Nystagmus refers to involuntary rhythmic movements; strabismus involves misalignment of the eyes; impaired saccades or pursuit can reflect brainstem or cortical dysfunction, while oculomotor palsies affect multiple axes of movement.

Beyond clinical assessment, øyebevegelse is studied in psychology and neuroscience to understand attention, perception, and reading. In technology, eye-tracking supports human–computer interaction, usability studies, and safety applications in driving, aviation, and virtual reality.