Saccadic eye movements of schizophrenic patients measured by reflected light technique.

In order to evaluate the integrity of their saccadic system, we have examined saccadic eye movements and smooth pursuit in a small group of schizophrenic patients, using precise infrared recording instrumentation. There were no significant differences between mean saccadic latencies of patients and controls. Both groups had mean latencies within the normal range of 200-250 msec. Saccades of schizophrenic patients appeared to have normal trajectories and dynamic characteristics. Three of the six schizophrenic patients and one of the three normal controls had smooth pursuit tracking characterized by saccadic intrusions and saccadic smooth pursuit tracking. Occasional saccadic intrusions and saccadic smooth pursuit tracking appeared in the records of all other subjects, but with considerably lower frequency. These results, emerging from reflected light methods, confirm a previous report of normal saccadic latencies in schizophrenic patients using an electrooculographic technique.