The involuntary eye movement called nystagmus may be related to a number of factors including poor brain control of eye movement, very near or far sightedness, scarred retina or optic nerve, a brain tumor or neurologic disorder. It may be caused by seizure control medications, drugs or excessive alcohol use. The condition can be imitated by some people in a similar manner as wiggling ears. Health Central states this voluntary rapid eye movement can be imitated for brief periods. Because the involuntary condition may be worsened by looking in one particular direction, eye exercises may be used to try to counteract the condition.
Eye Direction
Just as looking in a certain direction may exaggerate nystagmus, looking in another direction may stabilize the eye movement somewhat. Although the possibility of correction by such an eye exercise may be slight, the American Academy of Ophthalmology states that experimenting with a variety of eye movement and directions may give some relief to what is often a permanent condition. Objects may be seen better with peripheral vision or by not looking directly at the object.
Movement Toward Objects
While nystagmus may greatly reduce clarity of objects that are far away, moving closer to the object can provide better focus. According to Nystagmus.com, the nearer the nystagmus sufferer can move to the object in focus, the more likely the object will be more easily seen. Patients may practice moving into a certain range towards an object in order to have better definition.
Near Point of Convergence
An exercise called "near point of convergence" may be used to help control nystagmus. Also called "pencil push-ups," Women Fitness states that bringing a pencil towards the patient's nose until the image is doubled and trying to make the eyes see a single object may help reduce nystagmus. The patient tries to make the pencil stay focused without doubling the image closer and closer to her nose for 10 seconds with 10 repetitions two to four times per day.
General Exercise
Exercising the body regularly may help reduce the effects of nystagmus. In a National Institutes of Health report of a Baylor College of Medicine experiment with spider monkeys, those forced to exercise seemed to recover from induced nystagmus more quickly than monkeys who did not exercise.
