Some people experience episodes of uncontrolled eye movement, causing the eyes to shift up and down, side to side or in a circular pattern. Causes include eye disorders, head injury or stroke, but in some cases, doctors cannot determine a cause. Doctors do not have a cure for nystagmus, but they may try various methods to reduce occurrence. Knowing some of these treatments for nystagmus may help a person determine the best treatment for the condition.
Lifestyle Changes
The use of alcohol and drugs could lead to episodes of nystagmus. Typically, once the substance wears off, nystagmus will often disappear. If a person knows that using alcohol or drugs causes uncontrolled eye movement, avoiding these substances should resolve the condition.
For people who have nystagmus from diseases or eye conditions, they may choose to keep their heads tilted or turned in a direction that will minimize nystagmus, explains Langone Medical Center of New York University. This will not cure the condition, but it may prevent nystagmus from disrupting daily activities such as reading.
Botox
A number of muscles attached to the eye control movement, including the involuntary movements of nystagmus. In certain circumstances, an eye doctor may recommend injecting a solution called Botox, according to the All About Vision website. Doctors might not recommend Botox injections to every patient, but if nystagmus interferes with daily activities, Botox may offer the possibility of some relief. The injection paralyzes the muscles near the injection site, preventing some patients from experiencing some of the involuntary eye movement. If Botox does help, the effects will only last a few months, and the patient will require repeat injections.
Surgery
In severe cases, doctors might need to treat nystagmus surgically by repositioning the muscles of the eye. The procedure will not resolve nystagmus completely, but surgical alteration may allow the patient to use head movements to reduce the vision disruption caused by nystagmus, states the American Optometric Association. Before considering surgical adjustment of the muscles, a person should discuss all other alternatives, as well as potential complications, since the surgeon may need to perform additional surgeries to properly align both eyes. Misalignment could result in double vision or other visual disturbances.
