Dr. Anupama Vyas - Children’s Eye Care and Adult Squint Clinic

Nystagmus

Nystagmus is a condition that causes repetitive and involuntary eye movements and can affect either one or both of your eyes. This involuntary movement can have several forms, including up and down, side to side, or in a circular motion. Nystagmus is also widely called as wobbly eyes.

Living with nystagmus can impact a child’s vision, balance, coordination, and depth perception. An eye exam can diagnose nystagmus.

TYPES OF NYSTAGMUS
Nystagmus can be divided into 2 main types, congenital nystagmus and acquired nystagmus.

INFANTILE OR CONGENITAL NYSTAGMUS SYNDROME (INS)
INS (a type of nystagmus usually diagnosed during infancy), is sometimes called “early-onset nystagmus”. This type of nystagmus typically causes the eyes to move back and forth horizontally, much like a pendulum.
This form of nystagmus is typically mild and is not always caused by an underlying health condition. It does not always require treatment but some people choose to use corrective lenses or undergo corrective surgery. Though scientists are still not sure why exactly this form of nystagmus develops, this condition may be genetically linked to albinism.

ACQUIRED OR ACUTE NYSTAGMUS
Acquired or acute nystagmus can be caused by injury or disease and can develop at any age. This form of nystagmus is typically linked to problems with the inner ear or brain.

CAUSES OF NYSTAGMUS
A variety of factors can cause nystagmus, and depending on the form can either be present from birth or can develop over time. Some of the causes of this eye condition may include:

Genetic factors

Albinism

A head injury

Brain inflammation, particularly if it occurs in regions responsible for eye movement

A stroke

Some medications, including seizure medication and sedatives

Excessive alcohol use

Problems or disorders associated with the inner ear or brain

Symptoms of Nystagmus
You will notice the child to have wobbly eyes. The child may attain a particular preferred head posture to see things as this is the position in which nystagmus gets dampened. Do not discourage your child from doing the same.

Some other symptoms include :-

Uncontrolled eye movement

Vision problems

Dizziness

Reduced depth perception or balance issues

Focusing issues

Treatment for Nystagmus
Currently infantile nystagmus syndrome cannot be completely cured but can be helped. The current treatment modalities help in reducing the abnormal head posture with improved visual function and cosmetic benefit in reducing the wobbly movements of the eyes.
The treatment modalities include medications in certain forms of nystagmus (mainly acquired nystagmus), prisms, contact lenses and is mainly surgical with procedures done on the extra-ocular muscles.