This article describes the symptoms and causes of oscillopsia, including how it is diagnosed and treated.
People with oscillopsia often report that they see things jumping, vibrating, shaking, or jiggling.
This might happen when your head or body is moving or when you’re staying still.
Katja Kircher / Getty Images
Oscillopsia can trigger other symptoms, such as:
What Causes Oscillopsia?
Oscillopsia is largely associated with dysfunction of thevestibulo-ocular reflex(VOR).
They will also conduct aneye examto check for any problems with your eye alignment.
Your provider may also perform anoculomotor test.
When it is related to VOR dysfunction, the chances of recovery are good.
Even so, people with oscillopsia need to manage their symptoms, and there are treatments that can help.
With certain chronic conditions, like multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, ongoing management may be needed.
A range of exercises can help improve the symptoms, including looking at lines using different filters and lenses.
Vision therapy also helps with eye movements.
Prognosis
The prognosis for oscillopsia will depend on the diagnosis and stage of the underlying condition.
Some problems, such as VOR dysfunction, can be treated and monitored.
In other cases, the person will need to learn to live with oscillopsia.
Oscillopsia usually resolves on its own once the underlying condition is treated.
Some people may require medications or visual therapies to help them adapt and better cope with persistent symptoms.
2016;8:153-164. doi:10.2147/EB.S82670
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Current treatment of nystagmus.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is Charles Bonnet syndrome?.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Basic approach to diplopia.
Goodwin D.Homonymous hemianopia: challenges and solutions.Clin Ophthalmol.
2014;22(8):1919-1927. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S59452
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Floaters and flashes treatment.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Photophobia: looking for causes and solutions.
Brown GC, Brown MM, Fischer DH.Photopsias: a key to diagnosis.Ophthalmology.2015;122(10):20842094. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.06.025