Eye Movement Disorders

Summary

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.

National Eye Institute

Related Issues

• Abnormal Head Position American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Genetics

• About Duane Syndrome National Human Genome Research Institute
• Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Duane-radial ray syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Isolated Duane retraction syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Progressive external ophthalmoplegia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• X-linked infantile nystagmus: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Specifics

• Accommodative Esotropia American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Brown Syndrome American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Conjugate Gaze Palsies Merck & Co., Inc.
• Convergence Insufficiency American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Cranial Nerve Palsy American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Dissociated Vertical Deviation American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Duane Syndrome American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Esotropia American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Fourth Nerve (Superior Oblique) Palsy American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia Merck & Co., Inc.
• Monocular Elevation Deficiency (Double Elevator Palsy) American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Monofixation Syndrome (MFS) American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Oculomotor Apraxia American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Sixth Nerve Palsy American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Third Nerve Palsy American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• What Is Microvascular Cranial Nerve Palsy? American Academy of Ophthalmology

Adults

• Adult Strabismus (Eye Misalignment) American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Reference Desk

• Anatomy of the Eye American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• How the Eyes Work National Eye Institute

Treatments and Therapies

• Anesthesia for Adults Having Eye Surgery American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Eye muscle repair – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Prisms American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Strabismus Surgery American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Vision Therapy American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Nystagmus, Pathologic National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Ocular Motility Disorders National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Strabismus National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Cranial mononeuropathy III Medical Encyclopedia
• Cranial mononeuropathy VI Medical Encyclopedia
• Eye muscle repair Medical Encyclopedia
• Nystagmus Medical Encyclopedia
• Strabismus Medical Encyclopedia
• Supranuclear ophthalmoplegia Medical Encyclopedia

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dilating Eye Drops American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Strabismus Measurements American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Videonystagmography (VNG) National Library of Medicine
• Vision Screening National Library of Medicine

Encyclopedia

• Extraocular muscle function testing Medical Encyclopedia
• Eye muscle repair – discharge Medical Encyclopedia

Statistics and Research

• Eye Health Data and Statistics National Eye Institute

Find an Expert

• Find an Ophthalmologist American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Finding an Eye Doctor National Eye Institute
• National Eye Institute National Eye Institute

Start Here

• Nystagmus American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Nystagmus American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• What Is Adult Strabismus? American Academy of Ophthalmology

Children

• Photoscreening American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Strabismus American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Journal Articles

• Eye Movement Disorders