Nystagmus
Ear, Eye & Head Conditions
FACTS:
- Nystagmus is any form of involuntary, rhythmic eye movement. It may occur in horizontal, vertical, or semicircular paths. Nystagmus usually involves both eyes and is often exaggerated by looking in a particular direction.
- This occurs when a child’s brain believes the body is rotating for some reason, causing the eyes to move to compensate for the body’s movement.
- It is a fairly common condition.
- Nystagmus may be inherited. It usually is not present in newborns but develops in the first few months of life. In older children and adults, it is usually a temporary, non-progressive condition that stops spontaneously.
- Some side effects of this condition are involuntary head twitching, vision loss, some difficulty with coordination and/or inability to recognize a person that is not totally familiar.
- Some forms of nystagmus are associated with reduced vision, such as occurs in albinos, extreme near or farsighted people, or in those with scars in the retina or optic nerve.
TREATMENT:
- Regular medical examinations by an ophthalmologist are very important.
- Sometimes, removal of the cause may improve nystagmus. Often, however, nystagmus is permanent.
- The reduced vision may be improved with glasses and low vision aids.
- If the eyes are more stable looking in a certain direction, glasses with prisms or eye muscle surgery may improve the head position and allow better vision. Many times, persons with Nystagmus learn to work around the involuntary movements.
- Medications, biofeedback, and eye exercises rarely help control nystagmus.
- If it does not stop on its own, it can be a life-long condition.
- Nystagmus may be untreatable, but it does not have to stop a child from having a happy life.
- Nystagmus can sometimes look scary to people, but understanding the condition helps people interact as normally as possible with the children who have it.
- Most children with Nystagmus can function and see well enough to read and to live an independent, normal life.
