Nystagmus

The involuntary, rapid, uncontrollable, rhythmic oscillation of the eyeballs, which may be horizontal, vertical, rotary, or mixed, resulting from abnormal function of the ocular motor system, vestibular pathways, cerebellum, brainstem, or visual pathways.

Causes

• Neurological causes

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Stroke

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Brain tumor

  • Brainstem lesions

  • Cerebellar disorders

  • Neurodegenerative disease

• Vestibular causes affecting vestibulo-ocular reflexes

  • Ménière's disease

  • Labyrinthitis

  • Vestibular neuritis

  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

• Ocular and visual causes

  • Albinism

  • Congenital cataracts

  • Severe myopia or astigmatism

  • Optic nerve disorders

  • Retinal disorders

  • Reduced visual input during early childhood (sensory deprivation nystagmus)

• Nutritional and metabolic causes

  • Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency

• Medication and substance-related causes

  • Anti-epileptic drugs

  • Lithium

  • Alcohol intoxication

  • Sedatives and other neuroactive substances

• Congenital and developmental causes

  • Congenital motor nystagmus

  • Infantile nystagmus syndrome

  • Genetic disorders affecting ocular motor development

• Other causes

  • Head trauma

  • Postoperative or iatrogenic causes

  • Drug withdrawal states

  • Idiopathic nystagmus