Cross Eyes (Strabismus) and Nystagmus - What is it?

Nystagmus is an involuntary to and fro movement that is usually vertical or horizontal. This shaky or jiggling movement can be congenital and usually occurs within 6 weeks to several months after birth. It is considered acquired when it starts after 6 months of age. You can help ease your vision by reading books with larger print. Make sure you use a larger font on your phone and laptop and have bright lights at home. Such measures will help you see clearly. Consult an ophthalmologist when such symptoms are noticed to start with treatment procedures.

Children with truly crossed eyes do not outgrow them. A child having misaligned eyes may soon lead to poorer eyesight in the misaligned eye. This may lead to a lazy eye since the brain shuts off this eye. It is highly recommended to treat this condition as soon as possible since treatment is most effective during childhood. If your child seems to have crossed eyes, take him/her to an ophthalmologist. The doctor may prescribe glasses which may solve the problem if your child has farsightedness.

In general, individuals with congenital nystagmus see their world as stationary, and those with acquired nystagmus tend to see objects to be jumping. But otherwise, they can be as much independent as possible and engage in numerous normal activities such as playing a sport or driving a car. All that is required is to take measures to improve the vision such as ensuring proper lighting, avoiding glare and labeling objects. Availing mobility training will also help cope with the situation considerably.

Surgery aims to help alleviate a significantly abnormal head position or to decrease the amplitude of Nystagmus which can result in improvement in vision though it might not fully eliminate the condition. There are instances when Nystagmus improves predominantly when a person undergoes eye muscle surgery, also known as strabismus surgery. Non-surgical options include using glasses, contact lenses and certain medications, the usage of which is limited due to side effects associated with it. Depending on the nature and severity of the condition the doctor will decide on the course of treatment.