Nystagmus - what is it? Congenital nystagmus. Nystagmus - treatment

Sometimes, when talking with a person, you may notice that his eyes are "running around". In this case, it may appear that the interlocutor is not interested in communication or does not trust you. He looks away, does not focus on your face and does not maintain eye contact. Unfortunately, a person can behave this way not because of reluctance to maintain a conversation, but because of a disease called nystagmus. What is it, what are the causes of this disorder, how is it diagnosed and treated? We will describe all this in detail in this article.

Definition of nystagmus

Clinical manifestation of this disease are quite frequent, rhythmic, involuntary vibrational movements of eyeballs. A person who has nystagmus can not focus his attention on any object. He can not by volitional effort begin or independently stop involuntary movements of the eyes. Often this disease is accompanied by a decrease in visual acuity. With age, the manifestations of nystagmus may somewhat decrease. Nevertheless, any stressful situation or even severe fatigue can again provoke a worsening of its course. Nystagmus is not a cosmetic defect, as many tend to think, but a really serious problem. This disease is often accompanied by a disorder in the functions of the visual system, as the eyeballs of the patients move uncontrollably, and this does not allow a good view of the object. Some people due to nystagmus, complicated by other eye diseases, become almost blind. In general, it can significantly worsen the quality of life, well-being and psychological balance of a person nystagmus. What it is, we have considered, now we will discuss the causes of the onset, symptomatic manifestations and types of this disease.

Causes of nystagmus

This oculomotor pathology can be observed from the very birth, early childhood or appear in adulthood as a result of eye diseases or disruption of the functioning of the brain regions. The emergence of nystagmus can contribute to:

• Intrauterine growth retardation ;
• Prematurity of the child;
• Birth trauma;
• Eye diseases (hyperopia, myopia, strabismus, retinal dystrophy, optic nerve atrophy, astigmatism);
• Both congenital and acquired visual impairment;
• Traumatic and infectious lesions of the brain (bridge, cerebellum, pituitary, second frontal gyrus of the medulla oblongata).

In addition, involuntary eye movements may result from a stroke or multiple sclerosis. The development of nystagmus can provoke the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Such medications as Amiodarone, Primidon, barbiturates, Phenytoin, Fluorouracil, and Carbamazepine may also contribute to the onset of this disease. In some cases, stress causes are considered to be the cause of its occurrence.

Congenital and acquired nystagmus. What it is?

Nystagmus can develop on the background of problems associated with neurological pathologies or with diseases of the human visual system. Congenital nystagmus is a pathology of eye movement, manifested from the very moment of birth.

It can develop due to the pathology of the subcortical formations of the brain (oculomotor, visual, vestibular). Visual acuity in hereditary congenital nystagmus depends on the range and frequency of involuntary vibrational movements and is extremely low. As a rule, this disease is combined with organic lesions of the visual system: dystrophic changes of the fundus, atrophy of the optic nerve, as well as functional visual disturbances. Most often it manifests itself in the second or third month of the child's life. Acquired nystagmus - what is it? It is an oculomotor pathology that can occur at any period of life due to vascular disorders, inflammatory or tumor processes in various parts of the brain. This disease can manifest itself and because of head injuries, abuse of drugs, drugs, alcohol. Acquired pathology is divided into spontaneous nystagmus caused by violations of the vestibular analyzer, setting and optokinetic.

Types of oculomotor pathology

There are several classifications of nystagmus. The first typology is based on the direction of oscillatory movements. There are the following types:

• Horizontal nystagmus (eye movement directed to the left and right);
• Vertical nystagmus (eye movements up and down);
• Diagonal nystagmus (diagonal movements);
• Rotational nystagmus (movement of eyeballs in a circle).

The second classification takes as a basis the nature of eye movement. The pendulum nystagmus is characterized by uniform tangential movements of the eyeballs, while their speed in both directions is the same and sufficiently slowed down. The jerky nystagmus is distinguished by the slow movement of the eyes in any direction and by the rapid return back. Mixed type includes both types: jerky and pendulum. The third classification implies a separation according to the type of manifestation: explicit (constantly marked) and hidden (the appearance of uncontrolled movements when one eye is closed).

Diagnostic procedures for the determination of nystagmus and treatment of the disease

Any doctor at the examination of the patient can easily determine the nystagmus for specific involuntary movements of the eyes. But in order to know the root cause of the disease, more research will be required. First, the ophthalmologist will determine visual acuity, retina and ocular fundus condition, and also perform an examination of the functioning of the optic nerve and oculomotor apparatus. In the future, the patient will be referred to a neurologist for diagnostic procedures: EEG, MRI and Echo-EG. After the root cause is identified, therapeutic treatment will be prescribed. It will begin with the elimination of the underlying disease that caused nystagmus (for example, correction of violations: astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia). In addition, prescribe vasodilator drugs and vitamins for nutrition of the tissue and retina of the eyes. If it is necessary to strengthen weakened muscles or, on the contrary, weaken the too strong, the patient will be shown and surgical intervention, which allows to stop the symptoms of nystagmus. Treatment by an operative way will allow to reduce an amplitude and frequency of vibrational movements of eyeballs. In any case, curing oculomotor pathology will take a long time.