Nystagmus is a condition of uncontrolled eye movement. If you have nystagmus, your eyes move or “wobble” constantly.
This can be in a side to side, an up and down, or a circular motion, or a combination of these. This uncontrolled movement can affect how clearly you can see. Most people with nystagmus have reduced vision.
Nystagmus is caused by a problem with the way the eye sends messages back to the brain or how parts of the brain which deal with eye movement make sense of the information.
This page contains a summary of our information on nystagmus. To read our full information, download our Understanding Nystagmus guide, which is accredited by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists:
You can also download Understanding Nystagmus in Word.
Quick links
– What are the different types of nystagmus?
– Living with nystagmus
– What are the effects of nystagmus on sight?
– How can nystagmus be managed?
– Coping
There are two main types of nystagmus:
Infantile or congenital nystagmus is also sometimes known as “early onset nystagmus” or “infantile nystagmus syndrome” (INS). It is usually diagnosed in very young children, soon after they’re born or sometimes in the first few months of their life. This type of nystagmus can be associated with a problem with the eyes themselves or with a problem with the parts of the brain which control eye movements. But sometimes children develop nystagmus without any of these problems.
Some eye conditions which a baby is born with can be associated with nystagmus, including:
However, many children with nystagmus don’t have any problem with their eye, brain or health. When a cause for the nystagmus can’t be found, it is called “idiopathic infantile nystagmus” or “idiopathic nystagmus syndrome”. Some of these children may have a faulty gene known to cause nystagmus.
Nystagmus that develops later, mostly in adults, is called “acquired nystagmus”. Anything that damages the parts of the brain that control eye movements can result in acquired nystagmus.
Acquired nystagmus is usually a sign of another underlying condition such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain tumour, head injury or the effects of a drug.
If you have nystagmus, your eyes are always moving, although it may not always be obvious to you or others. The way that nystagmus affects vision varies from person to person; however, it doesn’t lead to total loss of sight.
How your vision is affected if you have infantile nystagmus varies a lot, and can often depend on the underlying cause of your nystagmus. Some people may be able to read most sizes of print without help, while others may have a significantly reduced level of vision. Most people with nystagmus have some useful vision and normally nystagmus doesn’t get worse with age.
Your vision can vary in quality when you have nystagmus, depending on which direction you’re looking in or whether you’re looking at something far away or close up.
Your vision can also vary depending on how you’re feeling. The more stressful or tiring you find a situation, the worse your vision can become. Your vision may also become worse when you’re feeling unwell, or if you’re anxious or upset.
Having nystagmus may mean that you need longer to see or read things. The constant movement of your eyes means that you have less time to focus on what is in front of you, for example printed text.
The effects of nystagmus may improve when your head is held in a particular position, which can help you to see things better. This is known as the “null zone”. This is often the direction of your gaze where your eye movements are slowest and most stable. Slowing or making eye movements more stable may mean your vision becomes clearer. Children with infantile nystagmus often find their null zone naturally. Parents or teachers may notice that a child tilts their head to one side, or looks at things sideways. Some people with nystagmus also find that nodding their head helps to improve their vision.
People with nystagmus may find they have poor depth perception and so may find it difficult to judge distances and height.
If you develop nystagmus later on in life, you may experience a constant awareness of the world moving around you, or in front of you. This is known as oscillopsia.
As the nystagmus is new, your brain has not adapted to the unexpected eye movements and so it sees the world moving. This is very disabling and can make things very difficult to see, as well as sometimes making you feel sick and dizzy.
Depending on what has caused your acquired nystagmus, it may be a short term condition that might get better. However, some people have the condition for the long term which can cause problems with how well they can see as well as being disorientating.
There is currently no cure for nystagmus. Having nystagmus can cause reduced vision but there things which can help manage the condition and make the most of your sight.
There are also some other options which can sometimes help to manage nystagmus. These options don’t work for everyone as their suitability varies from person to person. The options are:
You may hear of research into other management therapies such as acupuncture or biofeedback, which aims to reduce nystagmus through audio signals. However, it’s uncertain whether any of these therapies actually work and more research is needed.
It can seem overwhelming at first if you or your child have just been diagnosed with nystagmus. Although nystagmus can cause problems with your sight, with the right support at the right time, most people can lead full and independent lives.
We’re here to support you every step of the way, and to answer any questions you may have – just get in touch with our Sight Loss Advice Service. You might also find the information on our children, young people and families pages helpful.
For children with infantile nystagmus, having the right support at school can make a big difference. When a child is first diagnosed with an eye condition, a qualified teacher for visual impairment (QTVI) can provide support with development, play, learning and education. This support is continued from infancy into school and higher education, and other support is available when moving into employment. At an early stage, ask your local authority to put you in contact with a QTVI. They will support you and your child as soon as a visual impairment is suspected or diagnosed. If you have difficulty getting help, or need the details of the specialist teacher in your area, contact our Helpline.
Depending on how much of a person’s sight is affected by nystagmus, they may be eligible to be registered as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind). Registration can act as a passport to expert help and sometimes to financial concessions.
A low vision assessment can explore how to make the most of your sight. This may mean making things bigger, using brighter lighting or using colour to make things easier to see. Your GP, optometrist (also known as an optician) or ophthalmologist (also known as a hospital eye doctor) can refer you to your local low vision service for an assessment. You can also find out tips for making the most of your sight by downloading our guide:
The Nystagmus Network is a UK-based charity which supports people affected by the condition and leads the research into finding a treatment.
IN-vision is a UK charity dedicated to increasing awareness of infantile nystagmus and furthering research into a cure.