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Difference Between Horizontal Nystagmus and Vertical Nystagmus
Nystagmus is a medical condition in which there is an involuntary and repetitive movement of the eyes. It is a symptom of many underlying conditions and can be classified into several types based on the direction of the eye movements. Two of the most common types of nystagmus are horizontal and vertical nystagmus. While they share some similarities, there are also key differences between them.
What is Horizontal Nystagmus?
Horizontal nystagmus is characterized by involuntary and repetitive movements of the eyes from side to side. This type of nystagmus can be caused by a variety of conditions, including neurological disorders, inner ear problems, and medication side effects. Horizontal nystagmus can also be caused by alcohol intoxication, as alcohol affects the part of the brain that controls eye movement. The movements in horizontal nystagmus can be slow or fast, and the eyes may move either together or in opposite directions.
What is Vertical Nystagmus?
Vertical nystagmus, on the other hand, is characterized by involuntary and repetitive movements of the eyes up and down. This type of nystagmus is rarer than horizontal nystagmus and can be caused by a variety of conditions, including brainstem disorders, vestibular disorders, and medication side effects. Unlike horizontal nystagmus, the movements in vertical nystagmus are typically faster and more jerky in nature. Additionally, the movements in vertical nystagmus are typically dissociated, meaning that the two eyes move independently of each other.
Differences: Horizontal Nystagmus and Vertical Nystagmus
One key difference between horizontal and vertical nystagmus is the underlying causes. While both types of nystagmus can be caused by neurological disorders and medication side effects, horizontal nystagmus is more commonly associated with inner ear problems, while vertical nystagmus is more commonly associated with brainstem disorders. Additionally, horizontal nystagmus is more commonly seen in cases of alcohol intoxication, while vertical nystagmus is not typically associated with alcohol use.
Another difference between horizontal and vertical nystagmus is the way that they affect vision. While both types of nystagmus can make it difficult to focus on objects and can cause blurry vision, horizontal nystagmus can also cause problems with depth perception, as the eyes may have difficulty tracking objects in a horizontal plane. Vertical nystagmus, on the other hand, can cause problems with reading and other tasks that require steady fixation, as the eyes may have difficulty maintaining a stable gaze.
The following table highlights the major differences between Horizontal and Vertical Nystagmus −
Characteristics |
Horizontal Nystagmus |
Vertical Nystagmus |
|---|---|---|
Definition |
Horizontal nystagmus is a medical term used to denote involuntary, rapid, and repetitive movements of the eyeball in a horizontal position. |
Vertical nystagmus is a medical term used to denote involuntary, rapid, and repetitive vertical movements of the eyeball. |
Occurrences |
Horizontal nystagmus is the most common form of nystagmus. |
Vertical nystagmus is less common than horizontal nystagmus. |
Etiology |
Horizontal nystagmus may occur as a result of nervous system disorders, diseases of the circulatory system, injuries, poisonings, and some other consequences of the effects of external causes, diseases of the endocrine system, metabolism and eating disorders, diseases of the eye and its appendages, side effect after medication, congenital anomalies, deformities, and chromosomal aberrations |
Vertical nystagmus typically originates in the central nervous system. Other causes that may lead to the development of the condition include high phenytoin toxicity, large chiasmatic glioma, craniopharyngioma, suprasellar tumor, cerebellar ataxia, trauma, Chiari malformation, thalamic hemorrhage; multiple sclerosis. |
Examples |
Depending on the direction of the fast movement, the horizontal jerk nystagmus can be left beating or right beating. |
Depending on the direction of the fast movement, the vertical jerk nystagmus is classified as up beating or down beating. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, horizontal and vertical nystagmus are two types of involuntary eye movements that can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions. While they share some similarities, such as the ability to cause blurry vision and difficulty focusing, there are also key differences between them.
Horizontal nystagmus is characterized by side-to-side movements of the eyes and is more commonly associated with inner ear problems, while vertical nystagmus is characterized by up- and-down movements of the eyes and is more commonly associated with brainstem disorders.
Understanding the differences between these two types of nystagmus is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
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