What is Downbeat nystagmus?
Downbeat nystagmus is a formula of abnormal eye movement characterized by a slow ascending drift in the position of both eyes followed by rapid jerk down. This formula nystagmus indicates abnormality in the area where the spinal cord enters the skull and connects to the brain stem, specifically in the cerebellar. Rescors in the brain disrupt the nerve impulses that normally inhibit the tendency to hasty the eyes up. Although the eyes may beat down when the patient looks directly forward, nystagmus is usually worse in the view down. Patients with downbeat nystagmus report a feeling of moving environment called oscillopsia.
Some structural lesions can cause lower nystagmus. The most common structural problem that leads to downbeat nystagmus is the malformation of Arnold-chiari type I. This malformation is characterized by shifting parts of the cerebellum through the foramen magnum, an opening on the skull through which the spinal cord takes place. Wslepice displaced brain enters a hole, cramped space compress brain, leading to dysfunction of control roofdissek of eye movement and corresponding to lower nystagmus.
The foramen magnum tumors can also compress the cerebellum and produce Svert Nystagmus down. Masses in this area may include meningiomas and brain hemangiomas. Cranial trauma including the back of the head and upper neck can also produce enough swelling to cause downbeat nystagmus. Any brain degenerative process caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, infection or hereditary degeneration can contribute to nystagmus.
Other causes of downbeat nystagmus include certain drugs such as lithium drugs, alcohol and anti-stays. Poor nutrition can contribute to the formation of nystagm in cases of alcoholism, feeding pipes and in case of lack of magnesium. Such examples Downbeat nystagmus, involved patients have circulating proteins called antibodies, in their bloodstream that inhibits the activity of critical enzyme in the brain, blanketRBoxylase of glutamic acid. Antibodies disrupt the function of nerve cells in the cerebellar.
Downbeat nystagmus can be treated with oral drugs such as baclofen, gabapentin and clonazepam. Ostalmologists sometimes prescribe glasses of prisms that bend the light entering the eye and stimulate the eyes to converge or turn in. Eye convergence dampens nystagmus movements. If magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicates a healing structural lesion, neurosurgeons may function to remove masses or decompress the foramen magnum area. Most treatments for nystagmus are unsuccessful or only partially effective.