by Administrator
17. February 2012 10:56
Nystagmus is a condition of the eyes involving involuntary movement of the eyes, resulting in a jittery feeling in the eyes. The movement is aggravated while gazing in a particular direction. The inability to look at a particular distant scene for long is caused by failure of the brain to control eye movements. In most cases, Nystagmus is associated with reduced vision, which might need to be corrected with glasses. In severe cases, patients report a false perception of stationary objects moving, and a failure to perceive depth. In certain cases, such as in patients with a viral infection of the ear, nausea and vomiting might occur. The disease affects the nerves behind the eyes, while the eyes remain unaffected.
Causes:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Consumption of certain medicines e.g. Lithium, anti-seizure drugs etc.
- Infection of the inner ear
- Head injuries, or trauma to the body’s motor system
- Eye diseases, or visual disorders since infancy
- Heredity- The disease has been observed to run in some families.
- Disease caused- Tumors, Meniere’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Stroke are some of the diseases which can cause the disorder.
- Albinism
- Bilateral cataracts
Symptoms:
- Circular, vertical, horizontal, diagonal and other involuntary movements in both eyes
- Movements usually vary in speed
- Inability to make necessary adjustments, resulting in all objects being treated as stationary
- Improper balance and coordination
- Involuntary tilting of head and nodding as an attempt to compensate abnormal movements
- Partial or complete impairment of sight, resulting in difficulty while driving
- A null point, at which patients can see relatively clearly, with reduced movement
- Specific posture while performing daily activities, such as watching television, as a result of clearer vision at a specific point
Treatment:
- Removal of cause- Alcoholics and patients whose disease is caused due to the consumption of certain drugs experience immediate relief when the cause is removed.
- Reduced vision is corrected with the help of glasses or contact lenses
- Eye muscle surgery or use of lenses with prisms helps the patient in viewing all objects from the null point, without having to tilt their head or alter body posture.
- Low vision rehabilitation is gaining popularity as a treatment option for the disease
- Certain drugs, such as baclofen, gabapentin, memantine, levetiracetam, and acetazolamide have been shown to alleviate symptoms of congenital nystagmus to a certain extent.
To know more about Nystagmus, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.
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