Oscillopsia is a vision condition where objects appear to jiggle, jump or vibrate.
The main symptom of oscillopsia is unstable jumpy vision. Still objects appear to shake or vibrate. e.g. a tree or sign post. Possible causes are central nervous system disorders that damage parts of the brain or inner ear that control eye movements and balance. Such as:
Multiple sclerosis, where there is damage to the protective coating surrounding nerves.
Inner ear problems like Meniere’s disease.
Loss of your vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). This reflex makes your eyes move in coordination with the rotation of your head. If your VOR isn’t working, your eyes will no longer move in tandem with your head. As a result, objects will appear to jump.
Causes of VOR loss include meningitis, damage from antibotic medicines, damage to nerves in the brain, severe head injury.
Another cause of oscillopsia is nystagmus which can affect vision, depth perception, coordination and balance. This is a condition that causes your eyes to shift from side to side, or jump up and down in an uncontrolled way. Nystagmus is more common with multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain inflammation, brain tumor, inner ear problems, and certain medicines or anti-seizure drugs.
People with oscillopsia often describe some of the following symptoms:
- jumpy jittery wobbly shimmering vision
- blurred or fuzzy vision
- trouble focusing
- double vision
- nausea
- dizziness
- vertigo
Shaking vision often presents when walking or driving. Some people experience jittery vision only when their head is in a certain position whereas others experience jumpy vision even when still.
If the condition is caused by nystagmus certain medication can help, and wearing special glasses or contact lenses can help reduce the visual effects of nystagmus. Another option is to get injections of botulinum toxin into the muscles that control your eye movement. However, Botox injections can make it harder to move your eyes normally, and their effects tend to wear off after a few weeks or months.
Exercises like these could help you adapt to, or even improve, your vision:
- Move your eyes slowly up and down and from side to side.
- Bend your head forward and backward, and from side to side.
- Move from a sitting to a standing position with your eyes open and closed.
- Walk across the room with your eyes open and then closed.
- Throw a ball from one hand to the other.
The outlook depends on the cause. Some conditions, like multiple sclerosis, are treatable. In other cases, oscillopsia is permanent. Regular vision and health checks are important.