Nystagmus is a condition where the eyes move a lot, but are not under your control.  They can move left to right, right to left, up and down, and in a circular pattern.  This can make it hard to see, and very hard to read.  It can also cause problems with balance and coordination.

In Malaysia, congenital nystagmus (15%) was reported to be the second after 17% of congenital cataract of major causes of vision disorder in children. The study from the Optometry Clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for the duration of 10 months. It was diagnosed in 0.06% of children aged between 7 and 17 years of age in Malaysia.

The results also showed that there is a high incidence of nystagmus among our Down syndrome children. 20 of our Down syndrome children, there is 33.3% (7 children) presented with nystagmus. However, despite the high incidence of nystagmus, about 40% achieved good vision bilaterally.

Symptoms of Nystagmus

The common symptoms of nystagmus can be included:

• Rapid and uncontrollably eye movement
• Light sensitivity
• Balance and dizziness
• Nighttime vision problems
• May see objects blurry and shaky
• Head tilted to see things

Causes of nystagmus

Nystagmus can be caused by the following:

• Family history of nystagmus
• Stroke
• Brain tumor
• Head injury
• Alcohol or drug toxicity
• Diseases of the central nervous system
• Diseases of the eye or inner ear
• Albinism

Common treatments are:

• Wearing special glasses or contact lenses

Glasses and contact lenses could not cure nystagmus but they can improve individuals vision and slow down eye movements.

• Surgery

Surgery called tenotomy can be done to change the position of eye muscles to control eye movement. However, surgery could not cure nystagmus but it can improve the vision by reducing the degree of head-turning.

Can we help nystagmus?

We are not able to cure Nystagmus, but we can help to reduce or control the frequency of much the eyes move without being controlled.  In most cases of Nystagmus, we can teach you how to better control how your eyes move so it is easier to function. This training is new to Malaysia.

Why need to reduce nystagmus?

Nystagmus can make it hard to read, so people get tired easily and often get frustrated. It can take so much work to see, you can have trouble getting your work done. People with Nystagmus also feel confused when they are in a place with a lot of people. It can impact daily life, performance, clarity of sight, as well as study.

At Sun Time Vision Specialist office in Malaysia, we work with the eye brain connection and teach your brain how to get better control of how your eyes move.  This treatment is available in the United States, and we are bringing this treatment to our people in Malaysia. 

Our Vision Specialist at Sun Time is board certified in Vision Development and Rehabilitation in the US and Australia. For more than 10 years, we have been helping adults, teenagers, and children with Nystagmus to see better. 

Treatment for Nystagmus is new to Malaysia. We understand that you might have a number of questions regarding Nystagmus and how we treat it, and especially if this is the first time you are hearing that your child has Nystagmus.

Please feel free to call our office with your questions. Phone 03-2110 3967 or Whatsapps us

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