What is nystagmus?
Nystagmus (pronounced nuh-stag-muhs) may be inherited or can occur as a result of eye conditions such as childhood cataracts, albinism, optic nerve atrophy, coloboma, etc. In some cases a cause of the nystagmus can’t be found and it’s called idiopathic nystagmus.
There are two main types of nystagmus infantile or congenital nystagmus which appears in the first few months of life and acquired nystagmus which can develop in later life sometimes as a result of an accident oran illness (for example, multiple sclerosis or stroke).
When the visual pathways, or parts of the brain that process visual information and control eye movements or gaze, do not develop properly or are damaged in later life, then eye movements can become poorly controlled. This can lead to nystagmus which is a continuous uncontrolled to and from movement of the eyes. The movements may be in any direction. This means that the eyes will look like they are moving from side to side or up and down or even in circles. Most people with nystagmus have reduced vision, It’s thought that nystagmus affects between one and two in 1,000 people.
Further information and support can also be found on the Nystagmus Network website.
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