nystagmus

[ ni-stag-muhs ]

noun

1. a congenital or acquired persistent, rapid, involuntary, and oscillatory movement of the eyeball, usually from side to side.

nystagmus

/ nɪˈstæɡməs /

noun

1. involuntary movement of the eye comprising a smooth drift followed by a flick back, occurring in several situations, for example after the body has been rotated or in disorders of the cerebellum

Other Words From

• nys·tagmic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nystagmus¹

1815–25; < New Latin < Greek nystagmós nodding, derivative of nystázein to nod

Word History and Origins

Origin of nystagmus¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek nustagmos

Example Sentences

Although the baby's general development was excellent, he was shocked to see that the baby's eyes were opaque and they were jerking abnormally from side to side, a phenomenon whose medical name is nystagmus.

From Scientific American

The ranger also said he "observed four out of six clues on the horizontal gaze nystagmus test."

From Fox News

His love of TV partly resulted from having nystagmus, a condition in which the eyes move rapidly of their own accord, greatly impairing vision.

From New York Times

A 53-year-old professor of Hispanic studies at William & Mary, Root has nystagmus, a condition that causes her eyes to move involuntarily and makes it extremely challenging to read.

From Washington Post

It’s hard—I have nystagmus, the result of a long-ago concussion.

From Literature