Establishing age-related normative data for VNG gaze testing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Establishing age-related normative data for gaze testing using videonystagmography (VNG) in the North Wales population.
IRAS ID
324005
Contact name
Stephanie Lowe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 24 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Information from the eyes, the vestibular (balance) system, and the muscles and joints are combined in the brain and help us maintain our balance. When any of these are not working efficiently, dizziness and the feeling of being off-balanced can occur.
Vestibular function testing of patients reporting dizziness consists of a variety of different tests, of which gaze testing is one. During this test the patient is asked to hold their gaze on a fixed target on the screen in front of them which is presented in multiple positions on the screen including centre, left, right, upwards and downwards. These positions will be tested with and without visual fixation, with goggles covers being used to remove fixation.
The British Society of Audiology (BSA) recommend Videonystagmography (VNG) as the method to record eye movements in patients undergoing this test. The patient wears goggles that have inbuilt infrared cameras that track the pupils movements. Normative data collected from normal, healthy individuals is used to compare patients’ results to in order to identify if the patient has any true abnormalities. Abnormalities include not being able to maintain a steady gaze and uncontrolled repetitive eye movements known as nystagmus.
There are currently limited studies that have established normative data for the gaze using VNG.
This study aims to establish age-realted normative data for gaze testing using VNG. Participants will be individuals aged 18-79 with no known vestibular or neurological condition and will complete gaze testing with and without fixation in central, right, left, up and down direction. This testing will be carried out in the Audiology Department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Our research will begin in June 2023 and finish by July 2024.
Summary of Results
Participants in this study performed gaze testing during which they were asked to hold their gaze on a fixed target on the screen which is presented in the centre, left, right, upwards and downwards. Goggles are used to record any involventary eye movement (nystagmus) both while the participant is able to see the target and in the same position when they cannot see the target when a cover is placed on the goggles to remove visual fixation.
The aim of this study was to gather local normative data for this test using current equipment.
No nystagmus was seen in any participants when fixation was present. This result is in line with previous published studies.
Some low level nystagmus was seen in participants when fixation was removed. This is also in line with other previously published studies. The mean/median of the nystagmus intensity was lower than the suggested normal level provided by the VNG equipment. The results for this study were closer to the level of the nystagmus measured in normal participants in a previous unpublished study in a different hospital within the health board.
Not enough participants were recruited in each group to compare results between age groups.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0257
Date of REC Opinion
26 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion