A system and method for communication using movement of a person's eye, including an emitter for directing light towards an eye, a sensor for detecting emitted light from the emitter, and a processor coupled to the sensor for converting sequential light intensity signals received from the sensor into a stream of data, and/or for converting the signals into an understandable message. A radio frequency transmitter transmits the stream of data to a remote location, such as to a receiving and processing unit, which may store the stream of data, display a message in the stream of data, or use a command in the stream of data to control a piece of equipment. A self-contained detection device is also provided that includes a frame adapted to be worn on a person's head, and an emitter and a sensor, such as a solid state biosensor, on the frame for directing light towards and detecting light reflected off of the eye, respectively. A processor and a transmitter may be provided on the frame for converting an output signal from the sensor into a stream of data and for wirelessly transmitting the stream of data to a remote location.