University of Arizona Researchers Develop Breakthrough 3D Eye-Tracking Tech

A research team at the University of Arizona has introduced a groundbreaking approach to eye tracking using deflectometry, a high-precision 3D imaging method. Traditional eye-tracking systems rely on sparse data from about a dozen surface points on the eye. This new method can extract gaze direction information from over 40,000 — and theoretically millions — of surface points from a single camera frame.

By analyzing how structured light patterns reflect off the eye's surface, the system creates a dense 3D map of the cornea and sclera. This results in significantly more accurate gaze tracking, with experiments achieving angular errors as low as 0.1 degrees in artificial models.

The team, led by Florian Willomitzer, calls the technique "computational deflectometry," and sees it as a leap forward for VR/AR integration, medical diagnostics, and human-computer interaction. Future versions could use infrared light for non-intrusive tracking and integrate seamlessly into headsets.

🌀 Remix Reality Take:

This research isn’t just an upgrade to eye-tracking—it’s a shift in how machines understand intention and attention. By capturing rich 3D data with unprecedented precision, we’re getting closer to interfaces that feel intuitive, invisible, and truly immersive.

Source: University of Arizona News