The project at De Montfort University aims to allow severely-disabled youngsters to play computer games.
Learning to control games by eye tracking is also intended to help disabled children navigate real-world environments.
Eye control "adds a whole new level of intelligence to games", says research leader Stephen Vickers.
The use of eye tracking as a way of interacting with devices has been explored for a number of years, says Dr Vickers.
But his project is developing a more accessible, low-cost system, which will bring games into the reach of disabled children who cannot operate a mouse or keyboard.
They will be able to "push" buttons and direct a character by looking at different points on the screen. In a spaceship game, he says players can fire a gun by staring at a button.
Here’s looking at you
Eye tracking uses an infrared light to identify where the eyes are looking – and can measure the movements as the person looks around a computer screen.
If the eyes focus on an on-screen button, this can be like using a mouse and cursor to "click" on a button.
Researchers at the project at the Leicester-based university have worked with a local special school.
As well as letting children play games, it is also a way of helping children with very limited mobility to learn how to move around virtual environments, including those showing the layout of real buildings.