Voluntary Nystagmus

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical manifestations of voluntary nystagmus in three patients and verified the efficacy of video-oculography as a diagnostic tool to differentiate voluntary nystagmus from congenital or latent nystagmus. METHODS: Meticulous history taking and neuro-ophthalmologic examination were performed for three patients with voluntary nystagmus. Video-oculography was also performed in one patient. RESULTS: All of the three patients were young men in military service. Neuro-ophthalmologic examination was normal in all three patients, except for shaking of the eyes. Video-oculography in one patient showed 5~6 Hz pendular oscillation with an amplitude of 7~15 degrees and a peak velocity of 345.4 deg/sec, verifying that the oscillatory eye movement was composed of saccades and was not a nystagmus. CONCLUSIONS: In differentiating between voluntary and congenital nystagmus, video-oculography as well as history taking and neuro-ophthalmologic examination were very helpful.