Involuntary and rhythmic eye movements are said to have a forward phase and a return phase. These movements are horizontal, vertical or rotational.

The primary goal of the eye examination of these patients is to detect acquired cases caused by a nervous system disorder and the necessary investigations and treatment measures should be taken immediately. But in most people with nystagmus, it is a congenital problem (either sensory or motor). Sensory nystagmus is caused by a disease of the eye fields (with a severe decrease in vision from the beginning of birth). Among these diseases, we can mention cataracts and congenital glaucoma, albinism, congenital disorders of the retina and optic nerve. There is no other eye disorder in motor nystagmus and these patients have good vision.

Diagnosis and treatment of nystagmus

The main sign is the same rhythmic movements that can be recognized with the naked eye in most cases. In some patients, the abnormal position of the head is compensatory for being in a position where there is the least amount of nystagmus. In some patients, eye deviation may also be present at the same time as nystagmus.

In addition to the above symptoms, in sensory cases, other underlying eye disease symptoms can also be recognized. In cases where there is a suspicion of an underlying disease of the nervous system, the necessary investigations in this field should be done and the child should be referred to a neurologist as soon as possible.

In patients with nystagmus, if there are solvable underlying eye problems, they should be treated first, and if there is a refractive error, it should be corrected. Prism glasses can be used to treat nystagmus. Surgical treatment of nystagmus is to correct the abnormal position of the head, correct possible eye deviation and reduce the intensity and range of nystagmus, and there are different types of surgical methods for this purpose. It should be noted that none of the above methods can completely eliminate nystagmus.