NYSTAGMUS IN INFANTS

Abstract

Monocular nystagmus in an infant, without any known associated pathologic state, is of sufficient rarity to warrant reporting. The report is particularly justifiable since the study of the case has led to the belief that nystagmus in children is caused by the same fundamental set of conditions that in miners and that produced experimentally in young dogs, that is, by living for a long period in poor and inadequate light. Furthermore, the immediate beneficial response of the nystagmus in this case to the use of homatropine may lead to further trial and study of this drug a therapeutic agent in the treatment of nystagmus in children. A review of the literature shows that unilateral nystagmus without any demonstrable pathologic condition producing it or associated with it is very rare. That of horizontal type is remarkably rare. Peter1stated that monocular nystagmus as a rule is of vertical