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Nystagmus

Background

Nystagmus is a term used for spontaneous oscillations of the eyes. The most common form of nystagmus in young children is Congenital nystagmus (also called Infantile nystagmus) occurs at birth or in the first few months of life.

The incidence of nystagmus is unclear, but probably occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 births. Some of these children will, however, have multiple disabilities.
It is usually associated with an underlying visual disorder, such as albinism in which there is poor pigmentation of the eyes, skin and hair. Congenital nystagmus may occur, however, in association with a wide range of infantile visual disorders.

Rarely in young children nystagmus may be secondary to a neurological disorder.

How is it diagnosed? View How is it diagnosed?

Medical text written November 1991 by Contact a Family. Approved November 1991 by Professor M Patton, Professor of Medical Genetics, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London, UK and Dr J E Wraith, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK. Last updated December 2007 by Professor C Harris, Professor of Neurosciences, Institute of Neurosciences, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK.

 

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