nystagmus

American  

[ni-stag-muhs] / nɪˈstæg məs /

noun

1. a congenital or acquired persistent, rapid, involuntary, and oscillatory movement of the eyeball, usually from side to side.

---

nystagmus British  

/ nɪˈstæɡməs /

noun

1. involuntary movement of the eye comprising a smooth drift followed by a flick back, occurring in several situations, for example after the body has been rotated or in disorders of the cerebellum

---

Other Word Forms

• nystagmic adjective

Etymology

Origin of nystagmus

1815–25; < New Latin < Greek nystagmós nodding, derivative of nystázein to nod

Example Sentences

Peter and Connie have oculocutaneous albinism and nystagmus, which means their eyes move involuntarily from side to side and they have reduced vision.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2023

The positioning, also known as the Dix-Hallpike test, briefly re-triggers the vertigo, causing a rapid eye-flicking called nystagmus, which confirms that the patient is suffering from BPPV.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2023

Although the baby's general development was excellent, he was shocked to see that the baby's eyes were opaque and they were jerking abnormally from side to side, a phenomenon whose medical name is nystagmus.

From Scientific American • Jan. 12, 2023

In addition to the nystagmus in her eyes, the woman Demers was evaluating had also tripped twice during the walk-and-turn and then again when Demers asked her to balance on one foot.

From Washington Times • Apr. 8, 2018

It’s hard—I have nystagmus, the result of a long-ago concussion.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen