# FlatTrack: Eye-tracking with ultra-thin lensless cameras

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.15450 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.15450/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 13 of its 25 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 26 Jan 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1512.03385/) (2015)
- [MobileNetV2: Inverted Residuals and Linear Bottlenecks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1801.04381/) (2018)
- [Eye Tracking for Everyone](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1606.05814/) (2016)
- [Appearance-Based Gaze Estimation in the Wild](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1504.02863/) (2015)
- [Event Based, Near Eye Gaze Tracking Beyond 10,000Hz](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.03577/) (2020)
- [DiffuserCam: Lensless Single-exposure 3D Imaging](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1710.02134/) (2017)
- [RITnet: Real-time Semantic Segmentation of the Eye for Gaze Tracking](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1910.00694/) (2019)
- [FlatNet: Towards Photorealistic Scene Reconstruction from Lensless Measurements](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.15440/) (2020)
- [Spectral DiffuserCam: lensless snapshot hyperspectral imaging with a spectral filter array](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.08565/) (2020)
- [OpenEDS2020: Open Eyes Dataset](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.03876/) (2020)
- [EyeCoD: Eye Tracking System Acceleration via FlatCam-based Algorithm & Accelerator Co-Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.00877/) (2022)
- [OpEnCam: Lensless Optical Encryption Camera](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.01077/) (2023)
- [Seeing the World through Your Eyes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.09348/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Enabling High-Quality In-the-Wild Imaging from Severely Aberrated Metalens Bursts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.10083/) (2025)
- [LFD: Enabling Real-World Lensless Face Recognition with a Large-Scale Dataset](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.10094/) (2026)
- [Lensless Gaze Is Not Private by Default: Auditing Identity Leakage Across Disclosure Surfaces](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.09188/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Existing eye trackers use cameras based on thick compound optical elements, necessitating the cameras to be placed at focusing distance from the eyes. This results in the overall bulk of wearable eye trackers, especially for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets. We overcome this limitation by building a compact flat eye gaze tracker using mask-based lensless cameras. These cameras, in combination with co-designed lightweight deep neural network algorithm, can be placed in extreme close proximity to the eye, within the eyeglasses frame, resulting in ultra-flat and lightweight eye gaze tracker system. We collect a large dataset of near-eye lensless camera measurements along with their calibrated gaze directions for training the gaze tracking network. Through real and simulation experiments, we show that the proposed gaze tracking system performs on par with conventional lens-based trackers while maintaining a significantly flatter and more compact form-factor. Moreover, our gaze regressor boasts real-time (>125 fps) performance for gaze tracking.