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Published on: July 9, 2016
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of 600 Children With Nystagmus
Insights
This study characterized infantile nystagmus syndrome in children, finding it often co-occurs with other eye conditions and systemic issues. Treatments are available for most diagnosed patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Neuro-ophthalmology
Background:
- Nystagmus is an involuntary eye movement condition affecting children.
- Characterizing large cohorts is essential for understanding its diverse presentations and impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a large, international cohort of pediatric patients diagnosed with nystagmus.
- To identify demographic, clinical, and associated conditions in children with nystagmus.
Main Methods:
- Data from 600 pediatric patients with nystagmus were analyzed from a prospectively developed database.
- Demographics, nystagmus type, ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic conditions, special testing, and treatments were recorded.
Main Results:
- The cohort included 600 children from 38 states and 30 countries, with a mean age of 15.2 years.
- Infantile nystagmus syndrome was most common (75%), often associated with strabismus (64%), refractive error (94%), and systemic conditions (45%).
- Abnormalities were found in 67% during special testing, and 95% received treatment for their nystagmus.
Conclusions:
- Neurologically non-significant infantile nystagmus syndrome is the predominant diagnosis in this pediatric cohort.
- Ocular and systemic conditions are prevalent, underscoring the need for comprehensive diagnostic evaluations.
- Effective clinical treatments are accessible for the majority of patients with nystagmus.
Purpose:
To characterize a large, international cohort of children with nystagmus.
Methods:
Data were collected from a single-center, prospectively developed database on patients with nystagmus. Outcome variables for this study included: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) nystagmus type, (3) clinical characteristics, (4) associated ophthalmic conditions, (5) associated non-ophthalmic conditions, (6) special testing findings, and (7) treatments.
Results:
Six hundred patients from 38 states and 30 countries were included. Age ranged from birth to younger than 18 years (mean: 15.2 years), 58% were female, 55% were race other than White, 75% had infantile nystagmus syndrome, 17% had neurologically significant nystagmus, 7% had fusion maldevelopment nystagmus syndrome, 64% had strabismus, 56% had an anomalous head posture, 94% had a significant refractive error, 64% had an associated ophthalmic abnormality (excluding ametropia), and 45% had an associated systemic condition. Special testing showed abnormalities in 67% and 95% had treatment directed at their nystagmus.
Conclusions:
The most common diagnosis in this cohort is neurologically non-significant infantile nystagmus syndrome. Eye movement recordings provide a path toward accurate diagnosis and classification. There was a high prevalence of underlying ocular and/or systemic conditions requiring ophthalmic special testing as part of a diagnostic routine. Clinical treatments are available to most patients. [.
