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Nystagmus can be congenital or acquired, with causes including eye diseases, neurological disorders, genetic mutations, physical trauma, exposure to toxins, and central nervous system disorders. Genetic mutations have been identified as possible causes of congenital nystagmus, while acquired nystagmus can be caused by trauma, toxins, or central nervous system dysfunction. Medical intervention may be effective in controlling the condition.
Nystagmus falls into two main categories: congenital and acquired. Congenital causes of nystagmus include eye diseases, neurological disorders, and genetic mutations, among others. Acquired causes of nystagmus include physical trauma, exposure to toxins, and central nervous system disorders.
This medical condition is characterized by involuntary eye movements that are both slow and rapid. If left untreated, the condition can lead to serious vision problems. Of the two categories of nystagmus, the congenital type occurs more frequently. The characteristic clicking of the eyeball is commonly associated with a number of congenital conditions, including albinism, Down syndrome, and aniridia, which is the absence of the iris. Other conditions considered to cause nystagmus include Leber congenital amaurosis and Noonan syndrome.
Poor natal development can also explain the causes of neurological nystagmus. The introduction of certain toxins, such as alcohol and illegal drugs, can stunt the development of the fetal brain, which could lead to a lack of control over eye movements. It is also possible that the development of nerves and muscles in the fetus is weakened due to genetic factors, which can cause nystagmus.
Recent research has identified genetic mutations in patients with congenital nystagmus. Abnormalities in several genes on the X chromosome are thought to be responsible for the vestibulo-ocular reflexes found in individuals with nystagmus. Mutations in FERM domain-containing protein 7 (FRMD7) and in nyctalopin have been identified as possible causes of nystagmus.
Acquired nystagmus, on the other hand, refers to any nystagmus that occurs after childbirth. Any form of trauma to the optic nerves that control eye movement can lead to the condition. Serious diseases such as Whipple’s disease, for example, can cause nerve damage in the eye area due to malnutrition. Likewise, strokes can cause enough damage to cause nystagmus. Different forms of physical trauma can also explain the causes of nystagmus, including powerful blows to the head and eyes.
Toxins can also lead to nystagmus. Common toxin-related causes of nystagmus include alcohol, antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications. Heavy exposure to recreational drugs such as ketamine and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) can cause nerve damage significant enough to cause the condition. If the patient was addicted to any substance, nystagmus could also occur as a withdrawal symptom.
Another category of causes of acquired nystagmus is central nervous system dysfunction. These can be as simple as a deficiency in certain nutrients, such as thiamine, or as serious as multiple sclerosis. It’s also possible that nystagmus is the result of a tumor in the brain or eye. In such cases, medical intervention may prove effective in controlling the condition.
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