INTRODUCTION: Eye tracking technology has been utilized to assess the severity and document the improvement in the treatment of autism.1 In this pilot we have applied this to the analysis of results following facial aesthetic surgery. Quantitative data including fixation times, and sequence of visual scanpath are obtained to compare pre and postoperative changes post rhytidectomy. In addition, as studies show that a face is scanned in a central triangle pattern of eyes, nose and mouth, we study if this scan path is altered.
METHODS: Five volunteers viewed randomized images of 16 images of six patient’s pre and post rhytidectomy on a LCD monitor. Each patient had at least one frontal view, while two patients had a right lateral view of their face. Each image was displayed for 10 seconds, followed by 5 seconds for the observer to estimate the patient’s age. A SMI RED250 eye movement monitoring system recorded the observer’s eye position, and fixation time.
RESULTS: Data on six rhytidectomy patients in 16 images showed decreased fixation time on certain features of aging post rejuvenation. Post rhytidectomy, the average fixation time on the neck decreased by 99.5 ± 33.59 ms (range: 61.8–160.2) in the frontal views of all six patients. Eyes were a major feature of fixation, at least 90% of observers fixated on both eyes in pre and postoperative images in the frontal views. The average fixation time of the left eye and right eye preoperatively was 345.1 ± 98.3 ms, and 332.81 ± 21 ms, while postoperatively was 364.15 ± 59.7 ms, and 324.6 ± 67.7 ms. The observers scan path varied between pre and postoperative images, but the central triangle pattern remained predominant in both. The average fixation time spent on the central triangle from patient images were 369.7 ± 51.42 ms, and 373.9 ± 18.4 ms pre and postoperatively. Changes in fixation times of left and right buccolabial folds were also apparent, one patient’s average fixation time decreased from 120.2 ms and 40.1 ms to zero fixation postoperatively.
CONCLUSION: Eye tracking provides some quantitative data post facial rejuvenation. Future studies using this technology can further enhance our understanding of visual attention with aesthetic outcomes.
Reference Citations:
1. Frazier, T. W., Klingemier, E. W., Beukemann, M., Speer, L., Markowitz, L., Parikh, S., Strauss, M. S. (2016). Development of an objective autism risk index using remote eye tracking. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(4), 301–309.