Nystagmus – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

The trembling of the eyes is called nystagmus in modern ophthalmology. Both children and the elderly can develop nystagmus. In order for nystagmus to be treated reliably, a clear differentiation from eye twitching must be made relatively early on .

If nystagmus occurs, the affected patient’s eyes move involuntarily from left to right. Nystagmus is not always considered a serious condition. Nystagmus can also appear in everyday life. This form of eye tremor is called latent nystagmus. In latent nystagmus, a moving object is fixed only for a short time.

As a result, the eyes return to their original position after a short time. If a nystagmus is based on a pathological change in the genetic material, it is referred to as a congenital nystagmus. Acquired eye tremor is called ocular nystagmus. Acquired eye tremor is usually due to an underlying disease of the eyes.

causes

Since nystagmus often severely restricts the affected person in their everyday life, a great deal of attention is paid to investigating the cause. According to experienced ophthalmologists, for example, congenital nystagmus is inherited in most cases. As part of the causal research, the causes of acquired eye tremors were also determined.As already mentioned, a disease of the eyes is responsible for the occurrence of acquired eye tremors. For example, a clouding of the eye lens can promote the occurrence of eye tremors.

It is not uncommon for nystagmus to appear following an injury to the eye. The scars resulting from an injury can significantly impair the vision of the affected patient. Before a nystagmus is treated, the ophthalmologists devote themselves to making a detailed diagnosis.

When to the doctor?

If the trembling of the eyes (nystagmus) occurs only temporarily under the influence of mind-altering drugs, this is a side effect of the addictive substance consumed. Drug-related nystagmus usually subsides after a few days, even without medical help. Permanent trembling of the eyes, especially when it is accompanied by violent twitching that others can perceive, is very stressful for those affected. In this case, a doctor should be consulted so that it can be clarified whether the nystagmus is congenital or acquired.

Congenital nystagmus is usually harmless. Patients who suffer psychologically from this should definitely discuss this with a doctor. In the meantime, a cure or at least a significant improvement can be achieved in about half of the patients with congenital eye tremors using surgical methods. If the eye trembling occurs for the first time and there are other symptoms such as dizziness or headaches , it is essential to see a doctor. These signs can indicate a pathological change in the brainstem and cerebellum or a disturbance of the vestibular system.

diagnosis and courseA nystagmus can basically only be diagnosed by a specialist ophthalmologist. Frenzel glasses are used during the examination. Frenzel goggles enable the attending ophthalmologist to see the eyes enlarged. This is the only way the treating ophthalmologist can perceive the often weak rashes in the eyes.

In relation to the establishment of a diagnosis, the attending ophthalmologist takes into account, among other things, the beat frequency. One speaks of nystagmus only above a certain beat frequency. The direction of impact also plays an important role. Since in most cases nystagmus is only triggered in the context of a stimulus, a special examination procedure is used.

A thermal test helps the attending ophthalmologist to induce nystagmus. During a thermal exam, affected patients’ ears are rinsed with both warm and cold water. In addition to the examination methods already mentioned, special electrooculography is also used. Electrooculography is a medical procedure which is also referred to as eye movement measurement in modern ophthalmology.

If an underlying disease of the eyes is a possible trigger, further examinations may have to be undertaken. Nystagmus can only be treated specifically after comprehensive examinations have been carried out.

complications

Nystagmus (shaky eyes) can lead to numerous complications if left untreated. Above all, the limitation of vision should be mentioned. In addition, the entire ophthalmological apparatus can be affected. As a rule, nystagmus subsides as soon as sufficient rest has taken place.

However, the disease can take a chronic course and lead to a permanent reduction in vision. Because of this, investigations should always be carried out. Long-term complications include visual hallucinations . Depending on the progress, these must be observed together. In addition, focusing with the eyes is difficult or not precise enough.

Severe pain such as headaches or migraines are further complications. These can become chronic over time. Complications are also compounded when sufferers suffer from multiple sources of stress. These include strenuous night work or poor lighting conditions. In addition, untreated nystagmus can lead to dizziness. However, complications can also occur when nystagmus has been treated. These include eye infections and permanent eye damage.

treatment and therapy

Nystagmus can now be treated relatively well. The doctors treating you focus the treatment primarily on improving your eyesight. In order to achieve an improvement in vision, the affected patients must wear special glasses after a meaningful diagnosis has been made. These special glasses are characterized by one essential component. The glasses have prism lenses. At the patient’s request, the prism lenses can also be integrated into existing glasses.This form of treatment is always recommended when nystagmus occurs in everyday life and cannot be traced back to an underlying disease of the eyes. However, if nystagmus is congenital, surgical intervention must be considered. As part of a surgical procedure, the doctor treating you can also compensate for a malposition of the head, which often occurs as a result of eye tremors.

A surgical procedure is primarily used to bring the muscles of the eyes into a normal starting position. The underlying diseases that are often responsible are usually treated with medication. This is the only way to reliably treat nystagmus.

outlook and prognosis

With this disease, the affected person usually suffers from severe tremors in the eyes. This tremor cannot be suppressed and has a very negative effect on the patient’s quality of life. In most cases, this also leads to disturbances in concentration and coordination and the patient’s quality of life decreases significantly. It is not uncommon for the trembling of the eyes itself to lead to relatively strong visual disturbances, with the patient’s visual acuity also decreasing significantly.

In most cases, nystagmus is only temporary, so the disease does not last permanently. The trembling can also cause severe headaches or even hallucinations. In most cases, the treatment can be carried out with the help of glasses, without any particular complications or discomfort, and the prognosis is therefore positive. In some cases, however, surgical interventions are necessary. The disease can thus be limited relatively well, so that the complaints and symptoms disappear completely.