How to Live With Nystagmus

Nystagmus is a condition in which one or both eyes move abnormally from side to side or up and down. This movement is involuntary and causes visual impairment. Congenital nystagmus can be present at birth or develop within the first six months of an infant's life. However, acquired nystagmus develops later in life and may be caused by a head injury, stroke, brain tumor, meningitis or a neurological condition such as multiple sclerosis. While there is no cure for acquired nystagmus, sufferers can benefit from making certain lifestyle modifications or looking into the treatments available.

Instructions

• 1

  Get prescription lenses to improve visual acuity. Although corrective lenses do not cure nystagmus, patients normally have other eye problems that require corrective lenses. Distance vision, night vision and depth perception are often affected. Large print, better lighting and magnification can help.

• 2

  Position your eyes to look to one side. Although the way you hold your head may look awkward to others, this can help to reduce eye movement and improve vision. What is referred to as the null point is an area of gaze where nystagmus is reduced or stilled. In other words, the way you turn you head can help you to see better. Some people find it helpful to sit directly in front of a computer or television screen or a blackboard and turn the head to the appropriate angle.

• 3

  Train in biofeedback techniques that can help you become more aware of your eye movements, thereby allowing you to control them better. Practicing relaxation techniques can help slow eye movements.

• 4

  Accept that hand-eye coordination may be affected and limit participation in some sports. Balance can also be affected making it more difficult to go up and down stairs. Nystagmus acquired later in life sometimes causes dizziness, vertigo and motion sickness.

• 5

  Recognize that fatigue and stress can affect vision. Nystagmus usually gets worse when a person is tired or stressed. However, according to the American Nystagmus Network, the condition affects people in different ways. Although there are some common symptoms, because other eye problems are normally present, what works well for one person with nystagmus might not work at all for another.

• 6

  Talk to your doctor about anticonvulsant drugs, muscle relaxants or injections of botulinium toxin into extraocular muscles. These drugs may be useful for improving nystagmus symptoms in adults. The goal is to reduce the frequency of eye movements and improve eyesight.