What is Nystagmus?

Nystagmus is an uncontrolled and involuntary movement of the eyes. The movement is often side to side (horizontal) but it can also be up and down (vertical) or circular (rotary). The movement can vary between slow and fast and almost always involves both eyes. If you have nystagmus you may not be aware of the movement of your eyes, as images will not necessarily appear shaky to you. Nystagmus is caused by a disturbance in the visual system that connects the eyes to those parts of the brain that analyze vision. Nystagmus may result in reduced or limited vision. It affects approximately one in two thousand people.

Discover our visual aids for Nystagmus.

There are two main types of nystagmus:

congenital nystagmus (also referred to as early onset nystagmus): this type of nystagmus always develops in childhood, usually between six weeks and threemonths of age.

acquired nystagmus: this type develops later in life and has a variety of causes, including an association with serious medical conditions. Unlike children with nystagmus, adults who acquire it may see images as shaky.

Normal vision vs. Nystagmus 

What are the symptoms of Nystagmus

The primary symptom of nystagmus is involuntary eye movement. Other symptoms may include:

• sensitivity to light
• dizziness
• difficulty seeing in darkness
• vision problems
• holding the head in a turned or tilted position
• feeling that the world is shaking

What to expect from Nystagmus

Nystagmus is almost always a permanent condition. Its severity may be reduced by different treatments. Improving vision with lenses or glasses is an important part of treating nystagmus. Other possible treatments for nystagmus are surgery and medications. Surgery can alleviate abnormal head positions or ease the severity of nystagmus. Medications can also be used to lessen the severity of nystagmus, but their use is often limited due to the many side effects they cause. Discuss the best option for your specific case with your eye care professional.

More information about Nystagmus

There is extensive information available about nystagmus. The information included is intended to inform you about the basics of this eye condition, and is not intended as a replacement for information from your physician or eye specialist. Information regarding assistive devices that can help you if you have been diagnosed with nystagmus is included. Our recommendations can be found under Tools and Resources.

Living with Nystagmus

Hearing that your sight is affected by nystagmus may turn your world upside down. When the initial emotions subside, you may be comforted by the knowledge that you are not alone. There are many people in your situation, some that have also just been diagnosed and some that have been living with nystagmus for years. Below is a story of how Ava McCleese has been living with nystagmus for several years.

Testimonial

Ava is a courageous 10-year-old, who is living with low vision. Despite having no vision in her left eye and 20/400 remaining in her right eye, she continues to cheerlead, play the piano, bake brownies with her mom, and volunteer at her local church. Her positive attitude coupled with a pink Optelec Compact+ portable hand-held video magnifier, make these activities possible.

“Now that I have my hand-held CCTV I am able to read my Bible and the recipe box to make my family brownies. I also like to take pictures of people’s faces with the freeze frame, it makes me laugh! Especially my mom, she makes funny faces.”

Having been born with septo-optic dysplasia and later developing nystagmus, Ava can only see large objects approximately three feet in front of her, with no details. While there is currently no treatment to improve her vision, she proves that through a positive outlook, the possibilities are endless.
Ava McCleese

If you have nystagmus, there are devices that can assist you with those tasks that you have difficulty with. These devices will assist you with various visual tasks and will help you in continuing to lead an independent and full life.

Tools and Resources for Nystagmus

There is extensive literature available on nystagmus. The internet provides a wealth of information and most countries have one or more associations or support groups for people affected by nystagmus. Our recommendations:

American Nystagmus Network

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter: @Nystagmusorg 

There are many devices that can assist you in a variety of daily tasks if you have nystagmus. Below is a short summary of some of these devices. For more information we suggest you browse through our product assortment or use our easy Help Me Choose assistant to search and filter based on your wishes.

Products that may be useful if you have Nystagmus: