Nystagmus Treatment in Delhi: Child Eye Specialist
Nystagmus is a condition in which your eyes make rapid, repeatedly, and unbridled movements These eye movements can affect your vision, depth perception, balance, and coordination.
Nystagmus causes and threat factors include
• optic nerve complaint/disorder.
• Underdeveloped control over eye movements.
• Inner eye conditions, similar to Meniere’s disorder.
• Stroke.
• Head trauma.
• Complaint of the central nervous system.
• Albinism (lack of coloration in the skin).
• Multiple sclerosis( MS).
• Certain treatments, similar to antiseizure medicines.
• Eye problems in babies, including crossed eyes, cataracts,s, and concentrating problems.
• Rotary, or torsional, nystagmus involves indirect movements
• Shaky or blurred vision.
• Balance problems.
• Dizziness.
• Photophobia
• Nighttime vision problems.
Types of Nystagmus
Congenital nystagmus
In the age of three to six weeks, the symptoms are shown in children's. This type of nystagmus is infantile, meaning people are born with it.
In some cases, it’s passed down to children from their parents, but the exact cause isn’t always clear. Children with infantile nystagmus generally have it in both eyes. The main symptom is blurred vision.
Acquired nystagmus
Acquired, or acute, nystagmus can develop at any period of life. It frequently occurs due to injury or disorder. Acquired nystagmus generally occurs due to events that affect the inner ear.
Diagnosis
Nystagmus can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye test. Testing for nystagmus, with special significance on how the eyes move or turn, may include
• Sufferer history to determine any symptoms the patient is experiencing the presence of any general health problems, treatment taken, or environmental factors that may be contributing to the symptoms.
• Vision Acuity test measure to assess the extent to which vision may be affected.
• A refraction to determine the lens power required to compensate for any refractive error
• Testing how the eyes concentrate, move, and work together. To check a clear, single image of what's being viewed, the eyes must effectively change focus, move,e, and work simultaneously.
This testing will look for problems that affect the control of eye movements or make it tough to use both eyes together.
Child Eye Specialist may run several other Nystagmus tests, including
• A neurological examination.
• Eye-movement recordings.
• Imaging tests, like CT scanning or MRI, to capture scanning images of your brain.
Nystagmus can be caused by various factors, including genetic inheritance, other eye issues like cataracts or strabismus, diseases such as stroke or multiple sclerosis, head injuries, inner ear problems, certain medications, alcohol or drug use, and sometimes the cause may not be identified.
Factors that increase the risk of developing nystagmus include:
Insufficient development of normal eye movement control during early life
Albinism
Severe refractive errors, like nearsightedness
Genetic predisposition
Inner ear issues
Diseases like stroke or multiple sclerosis Head injuries Certain medications Alcohol or drug use
Treatment Options for Nystagmus:
Optical Devices: Devices that negate the negative effects of nystagmus are under development research.
Pharmacologic Treatments: Medications like 3,4-diaminopyridine, 4-aminopyridine, gabapentin, baclofen, clonazepam, and valproate have shown effectiveness for different types of nystagmus.
Surgical Interventions: Surgery can be used to change the position of the eye muscles, reducing the need to turn the head to see clearly.
Botulinum Toxin Injections: Injections into the eye muscles can help slow down eye movements temporarily.
Low Vision Assessment: Helps individuals make the most of their vision through magnifiers, lighting adjustments, and other adaptations.
Glasses and Contact Lenses: Correct refractive errors and improve vision quality.
Medication and Drugs: Used in specific cases like nystagmus caused by multiple sclerosis to control eye movements and reduce symptoms of oscillopsia.
Other Therapies: Research is ongoing into therapies like acupuncture or biofeedback to reduce nystagmus; however, their effectiveness requires further study.
Different Types of Nystagmus and Treatment:
Congenital Nystagmus (Infantile Nystagmus):
Treatment: For congenital nystagmus, treatment options may include wearing glasses, doing eye muscle exercises, and in some cases, surgery. Glasses or contact lenses can help correct refractive errors, while eye muscle exercises may help control nystagmus. Surgical options like the Kestenbaum procedure can be considered to alter the tension of eye muscles and improve eye movements.
Acquired Nystagmus:
Treatment: Acquired nystagmus may be managed by discontinuing medications that trigger nystagmus, correcting significant refractive errors, and using prisms to reduce abnormal eye movements. Botulinum toxin injections can be used to dampen nystagmus and eliminate compensatory head tilting. Surgical interventions like extraocular muscle surgery or the Anderson-Kestenbaum procedure may be considered to correct nystagmus by altering eye muscle tension.
Surgical Options for Treating Nystagmus:
Extraocular Muscle Surgery: This procedure involves surgically shifting the eye muscles to improve eye movements and reduce nystagmus.
Anderson-Kestenbaum Procedure: This surgical technique moves the null point of a person with nystagmus to align the eyes in the primary position, reducing the need for abnormal head postures.
Tetonomy: A controversial procedure where all four recti muscles are detached and reattached at their original insertion sites, reported to improve foveation and vision.
Rectus Muscle Recessions: Surgical recessions of the rectus muscles have been effective in treating acquired nystagmus without a null point.
Tenotomies with Reattachment: Extraocular muscle tenotomies with reattachment have shown effectiveness in treating acquired nystagmus without a null point.
Surgical interventions for nystagmus aim to improve eye movements, reduce abnormal head postures, and enhance visual function in individuals with different types of nystagmus. Consulting with healthcare providers is crucial to determine the most suitable surgical approach based on the specific type and severity of nystagmus.
