Terms used in tests and examinations
Nystagmus
Related terms · Eye twitching · Involuntary eye movement
Nystagmus is a phenomenon where the eyes move repeatedly involuntarily; the direction and triggering posture are examined to distinguish the cause of dizziness.
Overview
Nystagmus: Three things to note first
- Nystagmus is a phenomenon where the eyeballs, not the eyelids, move repeatedly involuntarily; its direction, speed, and changes according to gaze and posture are observed.
- BPPV Since it can appear in both peripheral vestibular diseases and central nervous system causes, a diagnosis is not confirmed based on the pattern of nystagmus alone.
- If new nystagmus occurs along with difficulty standing alone, double vision, slurred speech, one-sided paralysis, or a severe new headache, an emergency evaluation is required.
Meaning and Distinctions
What is nystagmus?
It can be observed in vestibular diseases, including BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), and neurological conditions. Nystagmus is the involuntary, repeated movement of the eyes, and the direction and triggering posture are examined to distinguish the cause of dizziness.
- Easily confused terms
- This is a movement of the eyeballs, which is different from blepharospasm (eyelid twitching).
- Why this is checked during medical evaluation
- It is always checked during postural tests and neurological examinations.
- What to note down for your visit
- Please provide any self-recorded videos along with when the symptoms started and whether there are other neurological symptoms.
More Details
Connecting nystagmus to my symptoms
Record the triggering posture and the duration of dizziness together
Note whether eye movements were observed when lying down and getting up, when turning your head in a certain direction, or when looking straight ahead or to the side. Do not repeatedly perform dangerous postures just to capture a video of nystagmus; instead, inform the medical staff about the start and duration of the spinning sensation, as well as any changes in hearing, headaches, or walking.
Self-recorded videos assist the examination but do not replace a formal nystagmus test
Even if the eyes appear to shake in a video, it is necessary to distinguish this from camera shake or normal eye movements. Medical institutions determine the range of peripheral and central causes by synthesizing eye movement, postural tests, hearing/vestibular tests, and neurological examinations.
The direction and duration of nystagmus are interpreted within the clinical context
Medical staff observe whether the eyes moved in a horizontal, vertical, or rotational direction, whether it started with a slight delay after assuming a specific posture, and whether it decreased in the same posture. While these characteristics are clues to narrowing down the cause, they are not used as a sole criterion for self-diagnosing BPPV or brain diseases.
Korean medicine treats lingering dizziness and recovery issues after testing
After identifying the cause of the nystagmus, Canalith repositioning procedure· if medication or rehabilitation is necessary, that treatment is continued. In Korean medicine, we examine how recovery time after changing posture, nausea, appetite, head heaviness, neck tension, cold sweats, and fatigue overlap. Based on this, we set goals for acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment according to phlegm-fluid (dam-eum), deficiency of qi and blood, or imbalances in heat and cold. After treatment, we verify the duration of the spinning sensation, walking stability, and the extent of return to daily activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions when looking up nystagmus
Is the fluttering of eyelids also considered nystagmus?
No. Eyelid twitchingEyelid fluttering is the movement of the muscles around the eyes, whereas nystagmus is the repetitive movement of the eyeballs themselves. The specific area of movement is distinguished through imaging and physical examination.
If nystagmus is present, is it always BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)?
Not necessarily. While nystagmus according to posture is used to evaluate BPPV, there are other vestibular disorders and neurological causes; therefore, the direction, duration, and accompanying symptoms are checked together.
Dizziness, Ear, Head, and Face Glossary
Compare similar terms here
You can check simple definitions before proceeding to detailed explanations.Read More
Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuideBPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)A typical symptom of BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is the sudden onset of brief vertigo, feeling as if you or the room is spinning, immediately after assuming a specific head position. It often occurs when rolling over in bed, lying down, standing up, looking up, or bending over, and tends to stop when the position is reversed. Nausea and instability may overlap, but new hearing loss or ear fullness is not typical. If dizziness persists even while still, or if one-sided weakness, slurred speech, double vision, or inability to walk occurs, do not wait for a BPPV evaluation and seek evaluation immediately.→
- Condition GuideDizzinessVertigo manifests as a feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning, or a feeling that your body is tilting or about to fall. It may be accompanied by staggering, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and a loss of sense of direction. Note whether it occurs briefly and repeatedly when changing head posture, whether it continues even while still, or if it is accompanied by a feeling of fullness in one ear, tinnitus, or hearing loss. If sudden slurred speech, weakness in the face, arms, or legs, double vision, severe headache, or inability to walk occurs, do not wait for a vestibular evaluation and seek emergency evaluation immediately.→
- Medical Evaluation GuideWhat should I check first when I suddenly feel dizzy?You should start by clarifying what you mean by 'dizzy.' Note whether the world feels like it is spinning, if you feel unsteady while walking, or if your vision goes dark and you feel as if you might collapse. If you experience one-sided paralysis, slurred speech, a new severe headache, difficulty walking, or sudden hearing loss, do not dismiss it as BPPV or fatigue; you must seek an immediate evaluation.→
- Head, Ear, and Face ColumnBPPV, Meniere's disease, and vestibular migraine differ in duration and accompanying symptoms→
Evidence and Update Information
The following materials were referenced to verify the basis and scope of the definitions and treatment descriptions.
- NIDCD: Balance disorders
- National Korean Medicine Clinical Information Portal: Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline for VertigoAfter identifying the cause, acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments are planned based on the remaining patterns of dizziness, and the scope of combining them with existing treatments was referenced.