Contents
Nystagmus is an involuntary movement of the eye caused by several factors mainly eye or head injury or some medication side effects. It can cause the eye to move from side to side or up to down involuntarily. It can be genetically acquired. Also, it can occur in one or both eyes, this condition is commonly known as ‘Dancing eyes’. People with nystagmus condition tends to nod and move their head at unusual angles to look at the objects normally.
Nystagmus can affect someone at any age and is usually the result of serious injury or disease. Some serious diseases that can cause nystagmus are strokes, coma, vitamin deficiency, or other eye-related issues. It can also be caused by excessive intake of alcohol.
It is important to consult a doctor immediately if you notice any sudden change in your vision. Like any disease, if early treated gives the best results.
It can be caused due to some other eye disease or medical conditions. Some people are born with it whereas some develop it later in life. It can be caused due to several reasons such as:
It can be genetically passed down from your parent
Other eye issues like cataract or strabismus
In this condition, the movement of the eye is not controlled. Sometimes it moves very fast or sometimes very slow. You might also notice that you nod your head very often or keep it in strange positions. You do that because it helps you to keep your focus on objects where you cannot steady your gaze. In such cases, things look better and clear when you tilt or turn your head.
Children who get Nystagmus can have a blurry vision but the world doesn’t look shaky in their vision. But the condition is different in adults they may get shaky vision. There are people who are not able to see clearly at night or are sensitive to bright lights. You may also have a problem with balancing and you get dizziness.
Nystagmus occurs when a part of the brain or inner eye which regulates the movement of the eye doesn’t function properly.
It is mostly inherited from the parents and occurs within the first six weeks or three months of a child’s life. This type of Nystagmus is usually mild and doesn’t lead to any severe medical problem. In this form of nystagmus, the eye tends to move in a horizontal manner. It is usually associated with other eye conditions like congenital cataracts, underdeveloped optic nerves, and even albinism.
Most people with this kind of Nystagmus don’t need treatment and do not even have any complications later in life. Some people do not even notice their eye movement but vision changes are common.
Vision problem varies people to people but in most cases, it is solved by using corrective lenses or corrective surgery.
It can occur at any age of life. The cause of this disease is unknown so it’s also called Idiopathic nystagmus. It occurs due to injury or eye disease. Some of the causes of Acquired Nystagmus are:
Most often this condition occurs 6 months to 3 years of age and disappears on its own between 2-8 years of age. This type of nystagmus cause children to tilt or nod their heads to get a proper vision. Their eyeball may move in any direction. Spasmus nutans usually do not require treatment.
If you are having any trouble in your eyes like blurred vision or pain in the eyes, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will conduct different eye exams to see inside your eyes and carefully examine all its parts.
You might have to go through other tests including:
Considering nystagmus is often a result of other neurological diseases. A doctor may take other tests to better understand the cause. As per the result obtained from the tests, the doctor will confirm if the patient has nystagmus and suggest possible treatments.
Your doctor may also ask you to spin around in the chair for 30 seconds and then focus on any object. If you have Nystagmus then your eyes will first move slowly in a direction and then rapidly to the other direction.
Treatment depends on the cause i.e., whether it is congenital or acquired. Congenital Nystagmus does not require any treatment but the following things can help you to improve your vision:
Such surgery doesn’t treat Nystagmus but reduces the degree of involuntary eye movements.
In cases of acquired Nystagmus treatment depends on its underlying cause. Some common treatment includes:
If you have nystagmus, you can do some things that will help you improves your eyesight and make it easy to do daily activities.
Improve the lighting condition of your home and paint the walls with bright colors. Also, protect your eyes from sunlight and from using dangerous equipment. People with nystagmus cannot do some activities that require précised vision like driving. It can limit certain activities so find a caregiver for help if needed.
If your child has nystagmus, it will probably go away with time but try to encourage them by letting them be.
For effective diagnosis and treatment, you can visit our website- www.eyemantra.in or visit the best eye hospital in Delhi now. Call 9711115191 or mail us at eyemantra1@gmail.com to book a meeting with us.
Our team of great and experienced ophthalmologists will always suggest the best option for your eyes.
We also offer various services like Retina Surgery, Specs Removal, Lasik Surgery, Squint, Cataract Surgery, Glaucoma Surgery, and much more.
Related Links
