Good and Augsburger described the alcohol gaze nystagmus sobriety test, which can be used as a roadside test to determine if there is reasonable cause to test the driver for ethanol intoxication. The authors are from the Ohio State University.
The left and right eye are each subjected to a battery of 3 tests (6 tests total).
Tests involve observing the subjects eyes while following a pen held at 38 cm that is moved from midline to the side:
(1) smooth pursuit
(2) end point nystagmus (at extreme lateral gaze)
(3) gaze nystagmus
Each tests is done twice for verification (if there is a discrepancy between the two results I assume a third run can be done).
Parameter
Finding
Points
smooth pursuit
smooth pursuit
0
lack of smooth pursuit (presence of compensating saccades)
1
end point nystagmus
no nystagmus
0
readily apparent nystagmus seen
1
gaze nystagmus
onset of nystagmus at 45° or higher
0
onset of nystagmus before 45°
1
where:
• Saccades = both eyes simultaneously show a series of abrupt, involuntary, rapid jerky eye movements.
• 32 cm is approximately 15 inches.
• Midline is the reference point (0 degrees).
total score =
= SUM(points for left eye) + SUM(points for right eye)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 6
• A score >= 4 indicates failure of the test and possible intoxication.
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