Oscillopsia
Encyclopedia
Oscillopsia is a visual
disturbance in which objects in the visual field
appear to oscillate. The severity of the effect may range from a mild blur
ring to rapid and periodic jumping. Oscillopsia may be caused by loss of the vestibulo-ocular reflex
, involuntary
eye movements such as nystagmus, or impaired coordination in the visual cortex
(especially due to toxin
s) and is one of the symptoms of superior canal dehiscence syndrome
. Sufferers may experience dizziness
and nausea
. Oscillopsia can also be used as a quantitative test to document aminoglycoside
toxicity.
Visual perception
Visual perception is the ability to interpret information and surroundings from the effects of visible light reaching the eye. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision...
disturbance in which objects in the visual field
Visual field
The term visual field is sometimes used as a synonym to field of view, though they do not designate the same thing. The visual field is the "spatial array of visual sensations available to observation in introspectionist psychological experiments", while 'field of view' "refers to the physical...
appear to oscillate. The severity of the effect may range from a mild blur
Focus (optics)
In geometrical optics, a focus, also called an image point, is the point where light rays originating from a point on the object converge. Although the focus is conceptually a point, physically the focus has a spatial extent, called the blur circle. This non-ideal focusing may be caused by...
ring to rapid and periodic jumping. Oscillopsia may be caused by loss of the vestibulo-ocular reflex
Vestibulo-ocular reflex
The vestibulo-ocular reflex is a reflex eye movement that stabilizes images on the retina during head movement by producing an eye movement in the direction opposite to head movement, thus preserving the image on the center of the visual field. For example, when the head moves to the right, the...
, involuntary
Involuntary action
An involuntary action is one which occurs without the conscious choice of an organism. If it occurs specifically in response to a stimulus, it will be known as a reflex....
eye movements such as nystagmus, or impaired coordination in the visual cortex
Visual cortex
The visual cortex of the brain is the part of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing visual information. It is located in the occipital lobe, in the back of the brain....
(especially due to toxin
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
s) and is one of the symptoms of superior canal dehiscence syndrome
Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
Superior canal dehiscence syndrome is a rare medical condition of the inner ear, first described in 1998 by Dr. Lloyd B. Minor of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, leading to hearing and balance disorders in those affected....
. Sufferers may experience dizziness
Dizziness
Dizziness refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability. The term is somewhat imprecise. It can be used to mean vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, or a non-specific feeling such as giddiness or foolishness....
and nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
. Oscillopsia can also be used as a quantitative test to document aminoglycoside
Aminoglycoside
An aminoglycoside is a molecule or a portion of a molecule composed of amino-modifiedsugars.Several aminoglycosides function as antibiotics that are effective against certain types of bacteria...
toxicity.