Clinical Understanding of Nystagmus in Vestibular Assessment: A Diagnostic Perspective
Nystagmus plays a pivotal role in vestibular assessment and is a key clinical indicator used to evaluate balance disorders and dizziness. At Santosh Institute of Allied Health Sciences , understanding the clinical relevance of nystagmus helps allied health professionals accurately differentiate between central and peripheral vestibular pathologies, leading to effective diagnosis and management. What is Nystagmus? Nystagmus is defined as an involuntary, rhythmic oscillation of the eyes, typically consisting of a slow phase movement followed by a rapid corrective movement in the opposite direction. Clinically, the fast phase of the eye movement is used to identify and name the direction of nystagmus. Nystagmus may occur in horizontal, vertical, or torsional planes and is frequently associated with symptoms such as vertigo, imbalance, and nausea. The characteristics of nystagmus such as its waveform, direction, duration, habituation, and triggering factors provide crucial inf...