– What is the meaning of nystagmus and how does it occur?
– The symptoms and causes of this condition.
There are many conditions that relate to the eyes such as blepharitis, an eyesore, eye fatigue and many more. Nystagmus is an eye condition that is peculiar in the way it operates.
We can not refer to it as an eye infection or an eye disease, it is just a state of the eyes, although there are some likely factors that cause this condition. Nystagmus simply refers to a condition of involuntary eye movement and the movement is often rapid.
We have voluntary eye movement, this is what we do deliberately but in the case of nystagmus, the eye movement is indeliberate.
When this condition occurs, the involuntary eye movement is usually lateral, that means, it is pertaining to a side, it might either be the right side or the left side of the eye. The movement cannot occur in both eyes at a time.
This condition is one that we can easily notice. But many people even when they notice it does not know what it is. Although, some people also refer to this condition as ‘dancing eyes’ due to the movement of the eye which is often rapid.
In most cases, individuals with this condition tend to acquire it since infancy. It is rare for one to acquire it in adulthood.
The one acquired at infancy is also referred to as ‘Congenital nystagmus’. This type is often considered to be non-treatable, but there are medications that bring about an improvement in the movement of the eyes.
Some of the causes of nystagmus include congenital disorders, nervous system disorders, toxicity, pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, or rotational movement.
Also, continuous rotation of objects in the eyes or subsequent foveation of moving objects can cause this condition to occur.
Other causes of nystagmus include; multiple sclerosis, stroke, trauma, etc.