A Guide To Nystagmus (an Optic issue)

Nystagmus most commonly causes the eyes to look involuntarily from side to side in a rapid, swinging motion rather than staying fixed on an object or person. Some nystagmuses, however, cause the eyes to jerk sideways or up and down.

Aside from being a condition I see professionally, nystagmus also affects a very close friend of mine. So I can discuss this eye problem from several points of view.

Nystagmus is usually infantile, meaning people have it from a very early age. Experts say that about one child out of every several thousand has nystagmus. Different kinds of nystagmus include:

Congenital nystagmus is present at birth. With this condition, your eyes move together as they oscillate (swing like a pendulum). Most other types of infantile nystagmus are also classified as forms of strabismus, which means the eyes don’t necessarily work together at all times.

Manifest nystagmus is present at all times, whereas latent nystagmus occurs when one eye is covered.

Manifest-latent nystagmus is continually present, but worsens when one eye is covered.

Acquired nystagmus can be caused by a disease (multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, diabetic neuropathy), an accident (head injury), or a neurological problem (side effect of a medication). Hyperventilation, a flashing light in front of one eye, nicotine and even vibrations have been known to cause nystagmus in rare cases.

Some acquired nystagmuses can be treated with medications or surgeries.

As mentioned above, most people with nystagmus are born with the condition or develop it early in life. Unless induced by trauma or disease, nystagmus almost always is caused by neurological problems.

The two basic types of nystagmus are:    Click to continue reading

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