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Nystagmus: plan B
Apr. 6th, 2014 10:55 amIt appears I have reached the limit of what I can do by simply trying to feel and stop the motion of the eye. I can halt the nystagmus at times, for a while, but not often. Basically, I have to be feeling very good to do that. So its time for a new hypothesis and a new approach.
Suppose that the eye uses the two vertical muscles to focus. They are called Superior Rectus (SR) and Inferior Rectus (IR). By simulataneously flexing these two muscles, the eye, could gain some acuity by distorting the field of vision. This would result in an "unstable equilibrium", since it would also pull the eye inward due to the offset of the muscles. The Lateral Rectus (LR), which moves the eye outward, would be called upon to move the eye to compensate. This situation might not be stable, and the eye might jerk around.
This would explain why nystagmus is worse when trying to focus on a distant object at the doctor's office. The eye would be trying to squish itself more and become more unstable.
If this is the case, one possible course of training to is to teach the eye to be open without focusing on anything. If this results in no nystagmus, then focusing was the problem.
When the eyes are closed there is no nystagmus. therefore, by keeping my eyes closed then slowly opening them, I might be able to consciously preserve the muscle positions when the eye is closed and learn to look without nystagmus. Focusing can be dealt with later.
Suppose that the eye uses the two vertical muscles to focus. They are called Superior Rectus (SR) and Inferior Rectus (IR). By simulataneously flexing these two muscles, the eye, could gain some acuity by distorting the field of vision. This would result in an "unstable equilibrium", since it would also pull the eye inward due to the offset of the muscles. The Lateral Rectus (LR), which moves the eye outward, would be called upon to move the eye to compensate. This situation might not be stable, and the eye might jerk around.
This would explain why nystagmus is worse when trying to focus on a distant object at the doctor's office. The eye would be trying to squish itself more and become more unstable.
If this is the case, one possible course of training to is to teach the eye to be open without focusing on anything. If this results in no nystagmus, then focusing was the problem.
When the eyes are closed there is no nystagmus. therefore, by keeping my eyes closed then slowly opening them, I might be able to consciously preserve the muscle positions when the eye is closed and learn to look without nystagmus. Focusing can be dealt with later.
