Abnormal movements of the eyeballs; side to side (horizontal), up and down (vertical), or circular (rotary). Such movements suggest organic pathology of the central nervous system (CNS) or of the oculomotor, trochlear, or abducens cranial nerves. Seen in toxic states such as intoxication with alcohol, sedative-hypnotics, anxiolytics, or phencyclidine (PCP).
Rhythmic, involuntary movement of the eyeball.
A rapid, uncontrollable oscillation of the eyeballs, usually side-to-side.
A rapid, involuntary movement of the eyes up and down or from side to side.
A regularly repetitive, usually rapid, and characteristically involuntary movement or rotation of the eye, either oscillatory or with slow and fast phases in alternate directions.
Involuntary rhythmic eyeball movement; it may be congenital or result from brain disease or other disorders.
Involuntary rhythmic ocular movements, particularly when looking to the side; each back-and-forth motion is known as a beat.
Involuntary, rapid, and repetitive movement of the eyes. Nystagmus usually involves both eyes, and it often increases when the person looks in a particular direction. The movement can be side to side (horizontal nystagmus), up and down (vertical), or circular (rotary). The condition may be present at birth or acquired later in life. Some forms of nystagmus accompany poor vision, as is found in albinos, people with extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness, or people who have scarred retinas (the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye) or optic nerves.
Rapid involuntary movements of the eyes that may be from side to side, up and down, or rotatory. Nystagmus may be congenital and associated with poor sight; it also occurs in disorders of the part of the brain responsible for eye movements and their coordination and in disorders of the organ of balance in the ear or the associated parts of the brain. Optokinetic nystagmus occurs in normal people when they try to look at a succession of objects moving quickly across their line of sight. Jerking movements sometimes occur in normal people when tired, on exaggerated movement of the eyes. These are called nystagmoid jerks and they do not imply disease.
Involuntary back-and forth or cyclical movements of the eyes. The movements may be rotatory, horizontal, or vertical and often are most noticeable when the patient gazes at objects moving by rapidly or at fixed objects in the peripheral field of view.
Rapid, involuntary movements of the eyes in the horizontal or, occasionally, the vertical direction.
Nystagmus, a spontaneous and involuntary oscillation of the eyes, is frequently observed in individuals with albinism.
A condition characterized by involuntary eye movements, which are typically horizontal but can also be vertical or rotational. In most instances, both eyes move in unison.
In the prevalent form, known as jerky nystagmus, the eyes move slowly in one direction and then quickly in the opposite direction. This can also naturally happen when trying to track a series of swiftly moving objects, like watching scenery from a moving vehicle, referred to as “optokinetic nystagmus.” A rarer type, “pendular” nystagmus, involves the eyes moving consistently up and down or side to side.
Nystagmus can be congenital, meaning it’s present from birth, though its cause is often undetermined. Due to the inability to maintain a stable gaze, there’s typically a noticeable reduction in visual sharpness. The condition is also associated with albinism and other significant visual impairments present at birth, like congenital cataract.
When nystagmus emerges consistently later in life, it often points to a neurological issue, such as multiple sclerosis, a brain tumor, or an alcohol-induced condition. It can also relate to inner ear balance problems. In some cases, adults who work in dimly lit environments, like coal miners, might develop nystagmus as a work-related condition.
Electronystagmography, a technique for tracking eye movements, can be employed to distinguish among the various forms of nystagmus. Where possible, the primary goal is to treat the root cause.
An involuntary back-and-forth movement of the eyeball.