Oscillopsia is a feeling or sensation that your surrounding environment is in constant motion when it’s actually not moving. People with oscillopsia describe the sensation as a jumpy, shaky or vibrating movement in their vision. Typically, oscillopsia is a symptom of an underlying health condition affecting your inner ear or brain.
Oscillopsia is a vision problem that makes it seem like your surroundings are moving — jumping, jiggling or vibrating — when they’re actually still. It’s typically a symptom of an underlying neurological condition that affects the alignment and movement of your eyes or the systems that control your balance.
Oscillopsia can be hard to live with. Some of the conditions that cause the symptom are treatable, but sometimes, it’s permanent.
Oscillopsia can be dangerous if it’s a symptom of another medical condition that hasn’t been diagnosed and treated yet, like a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis.
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Oscillopsia can be caused by damage to parts of your inner ear or brain that are important in balance and eye movement. The parts that are injured typically help your eyes fixate or focus on an object and coordinate your eye and head movements. When your head and eyes aren’t in sync, objects in your environment will appear to be moving even when they’re not.
Causes of oscillopsia include:
Your provider will perform an eye exam to look for issues with the alignment of your eyes. You may have oculomotor and coordination tests as well.
Your provider may also perform a neurological exam to detect other issues you may be having with your eyes.
You may also have additional tests to look for other underlying health conditions. These tests may include:
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Oscillopsia treatment will depend on the cause of the condition. If the cause is nystagmus, treatment options may include:
If the cause of oscillopsia is something else, your healthcare provider will discuss other treatment options with you.
Different types of vision therapy may treat conditions that cause uncontrollable eye movements. An eye care specialist called an optometrist can help you with exercises that strengthen your eyes and improve your eye control. These exercises may include:
Oscillopsia treatment may also include oculomotor-based auditory feedback techniques, which help you “listen” to your atypical eye movements and gain better control over them.
Healthcare providers sometimes use medications to treat the causes of oscillopsia. There isn’t any one specific drug to treat oscillopsia itself, but based on the cause, your provider may prescribe a medication like:
In some cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe a beta-blocker or an anticonvulsant to treat conditions that cause oscillopsia.
If your baby is born with a condition that causes oscillopsia, their brain may adapt to it and fix the problem over time. But sometimes, even with treatment, oscillopsia doesn’t go away. In these cases, you’ll have to learn to live with the symptom. Your healthcare provider can discuss ways to deal with the impact oscillopsia will have on your or your child’s daily life and to improve that quality of life.
Unfortunately, oscillopsia is a symptom of other health conditions. If you have one of these other conditions, oscillopsia may come along with it and you can’t prevent it.
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If you have jumpy, shaky vision or any other kind of unexplained vision issues, you should see a healthcare provider right away. They may refer you to an eye care specialist, like an ophthalmologist.
Oscillopsia can be associated with conditions that can get worse without early, effective treatment. Don’t ignore the signs of oscillopsia. Getting treatment sooner can improve your outcome.
Oscillopsia and vertigo are both symptoms of underlying health conditions. Vertigo causes a spinning sensation that affects your vestibular system. Your vestibular system is a sensory system that’s in charge of providing your brain with information about head position, motion and spatial orientation.
While similar, oscillopsia is involved with your ocular motor system. You see things moving that are stationary. With vertigo, the whole room is spinning around you.
If you have oscillopsia, you have trouble seeing clearly, especially when you’re moving. It may seem like your surroundings are moving when they’re actually not. Jumpy, shaky vision can have a considerable impact on your daily life. So, it’s vital to make an appointment with a healthcare provider as soon as you notice symptoms. An early diagnosis can often lead to successful treatment.
Last reviewed on 07/18/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy