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Nystagmus, which is also known as Dancing Eye, is a condition in which the eyes involuntarily move back and forth or move in a slight swaying motion. Severity of the movements varies greatly; it can be as mild as causing trouble reading vertical text, or as severe as making it impossible to meet the eyes of someone you are speaking to. Nystagmus does not damage or gradually worsen your vision; the movements do tend to get worse when the individual is stressed or exhausted, though.

Children can be born with congenital nystagmus, but it can also start up later in life. Causes of acquired nystagmus include neurological problems caused by brain tumors, head injuries and inner ear diseases such as Meniere’s Disease. Some seizure medications have been known to cause acquired nystagmus, and certain nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to developing it. One of the most common causes of congenital nystagmus is albinism. In addition to the commonly-known symptoms of having little to no pigmentation in the body and being sensitive to bright light, individuals with albinism tend to have reduced visual capacity due to the lack of pigment in their eyes, and almost everyone with albinism has nystagmus.

There is no cure for nystagmus, but some treatments have been known to decrease the movements. Wearing contact lenses sometimes helps to stabilize how much the eye is moving from side to side. Taking magnesium and Thiamin can help if the condition was caused by a deficiency in these nutrients. Likewise, if it is acquired nystagmus caused by certain medications, ceasing to take them may make the nystagmus go away. A surgical treatment involving cutting the eye’s muscles and then reattaching them has proven very successful.

For more severe cases of nystagmus, visual acuity will be decreased; vision correction such as glasses or contact lenses can help the person to function normally in everyday life. Even with treatment, nystagmus is a permanent disability; reading takes longer for people who have it, and they are not legally allowed to drive, as their inability to focus straight ahead would pose a safety hazard.