Nystagmus is a condition where the eyeball moves quickly and uncontrollably. This condition can cause visual disturbances such as blurred or unfocused vision.
Symptoms of Nystagmus
The hallmark symptom of nystagmus is rapid, uncontrolled eye movement. In general, the eyes move horizontally (side to side), but the eyes can also move vertically (up-down) or torsionally (rotate). This makes the sufferer often direct his head to a certain position, so that vision remains focused.
Nystagmus usually occurs in both eyes, but it can also occur in only one eye. The speed of the eye when rotating also varies in each patient. A number of other symptoms that can be experienced by sufferers of nystagmus are:
- Visual disturbance
- Balance disorders
- Eyes sensitive to light
- Feel the place where you stand shaking
- Difficult to see in the dark
- Dizzy.
Causes of Nystagmus
Nystagmus occurs when the part of the brain or inner ear (labyrinth) that regulates eye movement does not function normally. Broadly speaking, nystagmus is divided into two categories, namely:
Infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS)
INS is nystagmus that occurs due to hereditary factors. In general, INS occurs in the first 6 weeks to 3 months after birth. INS is usually mild and does not progress to severe. Therefore, parents of children with INS are usually not aware of this condition. In rare cases, INS can be triggered by hereditary diseases of the eye, for example optic nerve hypoplasia or incomplete development of the optic nerve, and aniridia (condition of absence of the iris in the eye).
Acquired nystagmus
Acquired nystagmus is nystagmus that occurs due to interference with the labyrinth. There are a number of conditions that can potentially cause acquired nystagmus, that is:
- Injury to the head
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Inner ear disease, eg Meniere's disease
- Eye diseases, such as cataracts and strabismus
- Diseases of the brain, for example multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, or stroke.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Hypomagnesemia or lack of magnesium in the blood
- Drug side effects phenytoin.
Nystagmus Diagnosis
Doctors can suspect a patient has nystagmus, if there are a number of symptoms that have been described previously. But to be sure, the doctor will run a physical examination.
Physical examination is performed by asking the patient to rotate for 30 seconds. After stopping spinning, the patient will be asked to stare at an object. In patients with nystagmus, the eyes will move slowly in one direction, then move rapidly in the opposite direction.
If necessary, the doctor will perform additional examinations, such as:
- Electro-oculography. This test measures eye movement using electrodes.
- Blood test. Blood tests are done to check if the patient is deficient in vitamin B12.
- Imaging tests. The doctor will run CT scan or an MRI of the head, to see if the patient's nystagmus is caused by an abnormality in the structure of the brain.
Nystagmus Treatment
The method of treatment depends on the type of nystagmus experienced. For infantile nystagmus syndrome, cannot be treated. However, in severe cases, the doctor may suggest a procedure tenotomy to change the position of the muscles that control eye movement. Although it cannot completely treat nystagmus, this procedure can reduce the degree of head tilt required for the patient to improve vision.
For sufferers acquired nystagmusThe treatment given depends on the underlying cause. A number of methods are generally applied to acquired nystagmus is:
- Replacement of drugs that are being consumed
- Fulfillment of vitamin intake in the body
- Administration of eye drops in case of infection
- Antibiotics for inner ear infections
- Glasses with prism lenses
- Brain surgery to treat central nervous system disorders
- Inject botulinum toxin (Botox) in visual disturbances caused by abnormal eye movements.
