Best Doctors for Nystagmus in Mysore

Types/Stages of Nystagmus

Nystagmus typically manifests in two forms:

• Congenital Nystagmus: This type is noticed between 6 weeks and 3 months of age in infants and is often inherited from parents who also have nystagmus. It may be associated with conditions like albinism or certain congenital eye disorders.

• Acquired Nystagmus: More commonly observed in adults, acquired nystagmus develops later in life due to serious medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain tumours, chronic drug/alcohol use, or head injuries.

Symptoms of Nystagmus

Symptoms commonly associated with nystagmus include:

• Sensitivity to light

• Uncontrollable excessive eye movements

• Balance issues

• Difficulty seeing at night

• Vertigo or dizziness

• Blurred or unsteady vision

• Eye strain or fatigue

Tests to Diagnose Nystagmus

The best doctors specialising in nystagmus treatment at Apollo Hospitals in Mysore utilise several diagnostic tools to identify nystagmus:

• Detailed medical history: This includes reviewing the patient’s overall health, past medical conditions, and family history of eye disorders.

• Visual acuity test: This test assesses the clarity of the patient’s vision using an eye chart. It helps determine the extent of visual impairment and assesses the need for corrective lenses or visual aids.

• Dilated eye exam: Eye drops are used to dilate (widen) the pupils, allowing the doctor specialising in nystagmus treatment to examine the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels at the back of the eye.

• Slit lamp test: This specialised microscope with a high-intensity light source provides a magnified view of the structures at the front of the eye, including the cornea, iris, lens, and anterior chamber.

• Brain MRI: In cases of acquired nystagmus, an MRI scan of the brain may be recommended to visualise detailed images of brain structures, determining the possible neurological causes.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Nystagmus at Apollo Hospitals, Mysore

The specialists in nystagmus at Apollo Hospitals in Mysore offer several treatments for Nystagmus, including:

• Prescription glasses or contact lenses: While these aids cannot fully correct nystagmus, they can improve vision clarity by correcting refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

• Magnifying devices, increased lighting, and large font text: These assistive tools benefit individuals with nystagmus to enhance visibility and readability.

• Treating underlying medical conditions causing acquired nystagmus: Treatment may involve medications to manage symptoms or underlying conditions, physical therapy to improve balance and coordination, and lifestyle modifications to minimise triggers.

• Surgical options: Certain types of nystagmus may require surgical intervention, such as tenotomy (cutting a muscle tendon to reduce eye movement intensity), and recession (repositioning extraocular muscles to improve eye alignment and stability).