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Nystagmus is a continuous, uncontrolled to and fro movement of the eye. The eyes can move in any direct and can cause reduced vision. Nystagmus is generally a problem with the pathways that connect the eyes to the part of our brain that analyse our vision. There are two types of nystagmus. The first appears in the first months of our lives. This is called ‘early onset nystagmus'. The other which develops later in life is called ‘aquired nystagmus’. In many cases, its still not know what causes it but its believed to affect between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 2000 people.
If you have congenital nystagmus, the affect on your vision depends on the underlying condition. Some people can still read small print while others can be registered as severely sight impaired (blind). The degree of severity of nystagmus does vary according to to the direction of your gaze. Vision with nystagmus can be variable although the vision can worsen when the eye movement increase. Every case of nystagmus is individual and does always need a detailed assessment.
Several types of nystagmus can be inherited. To find out the chances of this a specialist must first make an accurate diagnosis. You may be referred to a clinical geneticist.
Sadly, there is no available cure for nystagmus although some underlying conditions may be treatable that actually affect the nystagmus. There is still a vast amount of work being focused on understanding the eye movements caused with nystagmus.