05/21/2019
Have you heard of Nystagmus? If you are unsure and wanting to know more about it read below. You are probably thinking what exactly is Nystagmus? Well, it’s a condition that causes rapid, involuntary eye movement that often impairs a persons vision. It can be one or both eyes, and sometimes there is no obvious reason for the movements to occur. Some common causes of Nystagmus include a lack of development of eye movement control in early life, severe nearsightedness or astigmatism, or problem in the inner ear. There are two primary types of nystagmus: Infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) which is present at birth and is usually mild. It typically manifest in horizontal nystagmus. Even though the movement may not be noticeable, they might still impair the infants vision. If the movements are noticeable and identified, they can often be surgically fixed. Congenital disorder is what causes INS to develop in the first place. Secondly, Acquired nystagmus develops later in life. It can be caused by drugs or alcohol use, medications (especially anti-seizure medications), head injury, inner ear disorder or inflammation, stroke, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic disorder, central nervous system disorders, or conditions like tumors or multiple sclerosis. Here are some additional symptoms of Nystagmus which include dizziness, sensitivity to light, impaired vision at night, and feeling like the world is shaking. These symptoms may be aggravated with stress and fatigue which can affect depth perception, balance, and coordination. Lastly INS has no cure but medication, surgery, and prism therapy may help the symptoms. Eyeglasses or contact lenses won’t stop the eye movement, but they can improve vision. If you have any questions or concerns, comment below or contact us at (423)926-0551.
