Nystagmus: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Nystagmus is a condition regarding your vision where your eyes make involuntary repetitive movements. If this condition is left untreated then it can result in impaired vision, and improper balance coordination. Due to this condition you cannot maintain a suitable balance and the ones who are affected with this condition, they often nod their heads in unusual positions to maintain balance. There are 3 types of Nystagmus. The first one is known as Infantile, where it develops in infants within two to three months of birth and the infants often involuntarily swing their heads and it is also associated with other conditions such as albinism, congenital problems etc. Spasmus nutans is another form of Nystagmus where it occurs within 6 months to 3 years of age and gradually improves. In this condition you tilt and nod your head and the eyes move in different directions. This type of Nystagmus does not require any treatment. The other from of Nystagmus is known as Acquired Nystagmus where it can develop in childhood or adulthood where the cause is primarily unknown and they can cause metabolic and central nervous system disorders. The main causes of Nystagmus are due to albinism, inflammation in your ear, side effects of central nervous system diseases and congenital cataracts.

The treatment of this condition starts off with examinations in your eye and to detect the extent to which your vision is affected. The tests are conducted to decide the course of treatment that you need. Contact lenses sometimes improve the vision but they do not cure the condition of Nystagmus. In rare cases, surgery is performed to improve the functioning of the muscles associated with your faulty eye and it reduces your need to tilt your head every now and then. In some cases of this condition, treatment is not required but lenses are prescribed to help you see properly at the things that you couldn’t focus on. Most treatments associated with this condition are aimed at suppressing the abnormal eye movements without hampering the normal eye movements. Till this date, the condition of Nystagmus cannot be completely cured and mostly glasses and lenses are used to eliminate the vision problems that you are facing. The surgery for this kind of treatment procedure reduces the null positions in your eye and reduces your need to tilt your head every now then. Even animals can develop this condition. Dogs that suffer from this condition are caused by ear infections, trauma and hypothyroidism. This can be treated with various medications and vaccines.

Common side effects are dizziness, lethargic feeling, drowsiness, incoordination in seeing things around and involuntary shaking of your head.

Nystagmus cannot be cured completely. Sometimes as you grow up the symptoms might come and go every now and then. However it can be controlled to a certain extent with the help of contact lenses and glasses according to the severity of your condition.

If you are obtaining a surgery then it ranges around Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 15,000 depending on the facilities provided by your healthcare provider. The contact lenses and the glasses cost around Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,500.

The results of the treatment are not permanent. The results vary from person to person but the condition is never fully cured.