The general type of nystagmus present in a patient can identified based on the clinical findings. Further characterization of the nystagmus can then be performed.
General types of nystagmus:
(1) congenital
(2) dissociated
(3) fixation
(4) gaze-evoked
(5) latent
(6) manifest latent
(7) vestibular
Nystagmus present when eyes are in primary position with fixation
|
Findings |
Type |
|
nystagmus does not show conjugate movements |
dissociated nystagmus |
|
nystagmus shows conjugate movements; long history of nystagmus with high frequency and no oscillopsia |
congenital nystagmus |
|
nystagmus shows conjugate movements; not a long history of nystagmus; nystagmus increased by occlusion of one eye |
manifest latent nystagmus |
|
nystagmus shows conjugate movements; not a long history of nystagmus; nystagmus not increased by occlusion of one eye |
fixation nystagmus |
Nystagmus absent when eyes are in primary position with fixation
|
Findings |
Type |
|
nystagmus present when fixation blocked |
vestibular nystagmus |
|
nystagmus not present with fixation blocked; nystagmus shows increased intensity or change in direction when in eccentric gaze; long history of nystagmus with high frequency and no oscillopsia |
congenital nystagmus |
|
nystagmus not present with fixation blocked; nystagmus not changed in eccentric gaze; nystagmus present with occlusion of one eye |
latent nystagmus |
|
nystagmus not present with fixation blocked; nystagmus not changed in eccentric gaze; nystagmus not present with occlusion of one eye; nystagmus shows conjugate movement |
gaze-evoked nystagmus |
|
nystagmus not present with fixation blocked; nystagmus not changed in eccentric gaze; nystagmus not present with occlusion of one eye; nystagmus does not show conjugate movement |
dissociated nystagmus |
where:
• Conjugate movements indicate that the oscillations and changes are symmetric in both eyes.
• Oscillopsia = oscillating vision, with objects seeming to move back and forth, to jerk or to wiggle (Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary)
Specialty: Ophthalmology
