Nystagmus Flashcards
Involuntary rhythmic oscillation of one or both eyes, can be a sign of visual pathway lesion or an ocular control abnormality
Nystagmus
Any abnormalities to any of these systems causes the eyes to drift and there is a need for saccadic re-fixation that results in nystagmus
Pursuits, saccades, optokinetic and vestibular
Nystagmus features and characteristics
- type of waveform
- direction of oscillation
- amplitude and frequency
- symmetry between the 2 eyes, if bilateral
- constancy
- any latent component
- movement in all fields of gaze
- ubiulteral or bilateral
- conjugate or disconjugate
- congenital or acquired
- shaking, dancing, wobbling eyes, jerking
Is nystagmus voluntary
No
Jerk waveform in nystagmus
Have both quick and slow components. There is a fast corrective saccade to bring the eyes back to the target. Characterized by the direction of the fast component
Pendular waveform in nystagmus
To and fro movement of equal velocity in each direction (velocity of the beat same in each direction). A sinusoidal movement without a fast phase
What is jerk nystagmus characterized b y
The fast phase, but the slow phase of then ystagus reflects the abnormality
- the eye drifts slowly from the target and there is a quick correcting saccade (fast phase) to return the fovea to the target
- for instance, a left jerk nystagmus has a slow movement to the right and a fast corrective jerk movement to the left
Horizontal nystagmus
Side to side
Vertical nystagmus
Up and down
Torsional nystagmus
Rotary
Combination nystagmus
In any direction
Amplitude of nystagmus
The size/extend of movement between the start of the drift away from fixation to the start of the corrective movement (in the opposite direction)
- basically, distance traveled during the movement
- large nystagmus or small/fine nystagmus
Nystagmus frequency
Number of oscillations per unit of time
- one hertz means a waveform completes a full rotations in 1s
- the greater the number of beats, the higher the frequency
Frequency greater than _____ is fast
2Hz
Frequency les than _______ is slow
2Hz
Need slit lamp to view
Variation in field of gaze for nystagmus
The null point of a jerk ystagmus is where the intensity of the nystagmus diminished and VA improves. This may be associated with an anomalous head position
Chances with occlusion in nystagmus
Latent nystagmus
- the fast phase is towards the uncovered eye; amplitude and frequency increase
- latent component usually indicates a congenital condition
Other consideration in nystagmus
Variation in field of gaze
Changes with occlusion
Changes with visual demand
Most common type of nystagmus
Jerk
Etiology of nystagmus
Genetics
Developmental abnormalities
Ocular pathology.conditions