Involuntary eye movement, a condition called nystagmus, causes the eyes to move in uncontrollable patterns. The eyes may move vertically, horizontally or in a circular motion. Some children have nystagmus at birth, but involuntary eye movement may appear later in other children. If your child has nystagmus, you should know about the condition in order to determine when to contact an eye doctor, as well as to help you understand the best ways to help your child.
Additional Symptoms
In addition to the involuntary eye movement, some children may hold their heads at odd angles to help minimize the movements and help them see, says the American Optometric Association. You may notice these changes in head position that reflect the angle at which nystagmus is least bothersome to your child.
Causes
A child who has nystagmus from birth, which many refer to as congenital nystagmus, may have underdeveloped eyes. Misaligned eyes, called strabismus, cataracts at birth or neurological conditions may also result in nystagmus.
If your child has normal eye movement at birth, but acquires gradual or sudden nystagmus, this could indicate inner ear conditions, neurological conditions or injury to the head, says MedlinePlus. Certain medications may also cause your child to experience nystagmus.
Diagnosis
You should contact your child's pediatrician for an evaluation; the doctor may then refer you to an eye doctor. The eye doctor will pay careful attention to how the eyes move. For young children, the doctor may move a toy or object in order to see your child's eye movements. The doctor will pay careful attention to how the child's eyes focus on the object and how well the eyes work together, explains the American Optometric Association. The eye doctor and pediatrician may need to work together to determine a treatment plan to help ensure the best possible vision for your child.
Treatment
For some children, treating the cause of nystagmus will often minimize or completely resolve episodes of involuntary eye movement. For example, cataract removal in a child with congenital cataracts will often resolve nystagmus. Other possible treatments may include surgery on the muscles of the eyes in order to align the eyes or reduce the need for extreme head positions, says the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
Complications
Involuntary eye movements may cause your child to have poor vision and problems with depth perception, says the American Optometric Association. Difficulties with depth perception may lead to instability when walking. Poor vision may affect learning and other aspects of a child's daily life.
