Region: Europe/Africa
Date/time
Tuesday 2nd December 2025. Chaired by Helena Lee (University of Southampton). Vice-chair: Rebecca McLean (University of Leicester).
Agenda
- Welcome and Apologies
- Review and Approval of Previous Minutes
- Review of Terms of Reference
- Authorship Criteria for Guideline Document
- Progress Updates
- Timeline and Milestones
- Stakeholder Engagement and External Review
- Any Other Business
- Meeting Close and Summary of Actions
Meeting recording
Attendees
- Gemma Arblaster
- Siyuan Chen
- Artur Cideciyan
- Matt J Dunn
- Helena Lee
- Ruth Hamilton
- Sian Handley
- Rebecca J McLean
- Fiona Bríd Mulvey
- Frank A Proudlock
- Jay Self
- Fatima Shawkat
- Andreas Sprenger
- Herman Talsma
- Thom Wilcockson
Apologies
- Amanda Douglass
- Mervyn Thomas
- Omar Mahroo (sent feedback in advance)
Notes
Review of Previous Minutes
- Agreed previous minutes were accurate.
- Key decision reaffirmed:
- Develop system-based guidelines (starting with fixation) rather than disorder-based.
- Guidelines aim to support non-expert clinicians in practical eye-tracking use, not prescriptive diagnostic protocols.
- Minimum and ideal standards to be defined.
Terms of Reference & Authorship Criteria
- Terms of Reference:
- Purpose: Develop evidence-based, consensus-driven clinical guidelines for eye tracking in nystagmus assessment.
- Objectives: Review current practices, standardize protocols, promote international collaboration, ensure inclusivity.
- Roles: Chairs coordinate; members actively contribute and review.
- Decision-making: Consensus-based, minority views documented.
- Outputs: Guideline document, supporting materials, annual review.
- Authorship Criteria:
- Substantial contribution (development, drafting, data interpretation).
- Timely engagement:
- Authorship confirmation: 10 days
- Draft review: 15 days
- Final approval: 7 days
- Non-response protocol: Removal after reminder + 5 days.
- Conflict of interest declaration required.
Discussion Highlights
- Scope Clarification:
- Debate on whether guideline should focus on fixation only or broader nystagmus assessment.
- Agreement: Start with fixation protocol as a manageable first step.
- Other systems (saccades, pursuit, OKN, VOR) noted for future work.
- Clinical Questions Identified:
- Does the patient have nystagmus?
- What type of nystagmus?
- Presence of null zone?
- Change with management/intervention?
- Consider fixation under various conditions (monocular/binocular, near/distance, head posture, spontaneous viewing).
- Key Points Raised:
- Include open-loop vs closed-loop (fixation target present/absent).
- Minimum vs ideal standards for clinical feasibility.
- Avoid mission creep—model structure on ISCEV standards for clarity.
Decisions
- Immediate focus: Draft fixation protocol for clinical use.
- Structure: Use ISCEV-style headings for consistency (Ruth to provide template).
- Next steps: Collect individual protocols from members once headings are shared.
Action Plan
| Action | Responsible | Deadline |
| Share ISCEV-style headings/template | Ruth Hamilton | ASAP |
| Draft meeting minutes & circulate | Helena Lee | 6 Dec 2025 |
| Distribute headings + minutes to all members | Helena Lee | Upon receipt from Ruth |
| Members to draft their fixation protocol under provided headings | All members | Date to be set after template circulation |
| Merge drafts and prepare consensus document | Helena Lee & Rebecca McLean | Before next meeting |
| Schedule next meeting (tentative) | Helena & Rebecca | Poll after template review |
Next meeting
Tentative: After review of ISCEV headings and initial drafts (poll to confirm date).