Eye Movement Disorders

Q: What is Eye Movement Disorders?

Learn about eye movement disorders, such as strabismus, where the eyes point in different directions, and nystagmus, which causes rapid eye movements.

What is Eye Movement Disorders?

When you look at an object, you're using several muscles to move both eyes to focus on it. If you have a problem with the muscles, the eyes don't work properly. There are many kinds of eye movement disorders. Two common ones are: Strabismus - a disorder in which the two eyes don't line up in the same direction. This results in "crossed eyes" or "walleye." Nystagmus - fast, uncontrollable movements of the eyes, sometimes called "dancing eyes" Some eye movement disorders are present at birth. Others develop over time and may be associated with other problems, such as injuries. Treatments include glasses, patches, eye muscle exercises, and surgery. There is no cure for some kinds of eye movement disorders, such as most kinds of nystagmus.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH) — read the full NIH article.

Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Please see your doctor for diagnosis, and seek urgent care for any severe or sudden symptoms.