Nystagmus is where there is uncontrollable movement of your child’s eyes, in a back and forth motion, up and down or around in circles. This occurs in children where the optic nerve has not developed properly or in children born with albinism (where there has been a defect of melanin production that results in little or no colour pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes). A baby can be born with Nystagmus, or it can be something that is developed in the weeks or months after the birth. The bigger the eye movements are, the more likely that this is an indication of vision problems. If you are concerned about signs of nystagmus talk to your G.P. who will refer you to a paediatric ophthalmologist.
Nystagmus can develop later in life as a result of a disease or injury.
Learn more about the symptoms of nystagmus
