Could be nystagmus. If its getting worse see a neuro ophthalmologist. Find one at www.aao.org
JCH III MD
i am researching the same exact symptoms you describe...it usually happens to me when i have been focusing for a while. have you figured out what it is?
I've been researching this because it happens to me on occasion too. I found something called 'saccade' which is basically when your eyes flutter back and forth.
What I understand from the info I read is that your eyes, like a computer screen, have a 'refresh rate'. We need our eyes to do this because the light and color receptors in our eyes (the rods and cones) only react to light, not movement. So our eyes 'refresh' rapidly (and usually imperceptibly) so we can continuously see what we're looking at and doesn't disappear. I'm sure you've heard about animals whose vision is based on movement - if the thing it's looking at doesn't move then it can't see it. Same thing, but our eyes know how to refresh and keep the image streaming-live.
The flutter seems to be triggered by a number of things, one of which you already said - by focusing on something too long. It can also be eye fatigue, neurological, pathological, looking at something far away after reading up close or vice-versa, or from the brain being a tiny bit out of sync with what it thought the eyes were looking at, so it tells the eyes to flutter for a fraction of a second to "reset" the image.
I think for most people with the occasional flutter it's simply a reset of some sort or eye fatigue/strain. Hope that helps.
well i can move them whenever i wish like that- they move like million of times though its only a split of second, tried timing it after about 1 min of doing this cool feature my eyes start to itch and get a bit red, and some cappilaries are visible ive never had any vision problems whatso ever BUT the thing i wish to know what the heck is it?:D ive never met anyone who can do thesame so i usually use it at parties like "wanna se something wicked sick" and then stun people :D oh and nearly forgot i trained for aboth half a year to learn to move them up and down thesame speed!
wicked gift of nature or disease??
It can also be ocular fluttering which can be a symptom of MS or other neurological disorders.Get it checked asap.
I'm 15 and my eyes do this a few times a week. I don't know if age has anything to do with it, but sometimes it gives me a headache and worries me.
@ hhhaaallleeeyyy:
Nystagmus is usually present from birth or a young age, and it is usually benign, so I wouldn't worry too much. I've had it since I was at least 4, and other than causing momentary dizziness, I've never had a problem with it. I do recommend having an eye doctor familiar with nystagmus check you out to be sure it isn't caused by a more serious condition (rare), but I wouldn't be too concerned.
I have the exact same thing happen. It first happened when I was a young girl probably 6 or 7. It don't remember it happening very much until the past 5 years when I started playing video games more or switching my view from the rear view mirror to the windshield while driving also reading. I'be brought it up to eye Dr and they have taken pictures of the back of my eye and said everything looks normal and I have 20/20 vision. They recommended a neurologist but I have yet to have it examined. The eye Dr. wasn't familiar with what I was talking about either.
And it's my left eye only.
I would suggest you see either an Eye MD ophthalmologist that specializes in neuro-ophthalmology or eye muscle problems (Strabismus-often called a pediatric ophthalmologist but most do adults also). Nystagmus of just one eye might be due to Duane's Syndrome Given the amount of time you've had it its unlikely anything serious and not likely to require treatment. however if it gets worse or something new develops then its mandatory to see one or the two types of sub-specialists.
JCH MD
Thanks for the input Doc!
Yes best of luck. Let us know if a definitive diagnosis is made. JCH MD
I have the same thing happen in both my eyes. Happens about once every 2 months or so. You might be straining your eyes too much. I got reading glasses with special lenses to reduce blue light from my computer. They have helped the strain in my eyes and my stress level.
This has happened to me three times in the last hour. Usually it happens every so often, both eyes flicker from side to side at the same time for a second. Its been happening for years. I never thought of mentioning it to my eye doctor but havent been there in years either. I do have a "lazy eye" I know that. It is usually when Im trying to focus on something though, but my mouth also twitches when Im focusing (usually reading) on something and that happens more often than my eye flickering. All involuntarily.
If something happens for years and years and nothing new develops and it doesn't get worse then its not at all likely serious even if doctors have a problem putting a name on it.
I have this happen to me occasionally. It always startles me, because it will happen out of nowhere, usually when I'm intensely focused on something. I'm an artist, and when I'm drawing it happens more frequently, so I always figured it was just from staring so long at something. It's been happening to me since I was a kid, so I never worried about it! I tried to explain it to my mom once, since she's a nurse, and she didn't seem overly concerned about it, either.
I have this happen to me occasionally. It always startles me, because it will happen out of nowhere, usually when I'm intensely focused on something. I'm an artist, and when I'm drawing it happens more frequently, so I always figured it was just from staring so long at something. It's happened to me since I was a kid, so I never worried about it! I tried to explain it to my mom once, since she's a nurse, and she didn't seem overly concerned about it, either.
What many are describing in this blog I have just recently started experiencing. I am 39 years old and have a history of diabetes in my family, my father died due to complications of this disease at the young age of 55. Thankfully, I myself have not developed the disease. I am an artist and it happens mainly when I have been concentrating intensely for a long period of time. In your medical opinion, given my family history could these rapid eye movements be related and what would be the best doctor to see if I wish to have it checked out? Thank you.
I've had this ever since I can remember. It happens randomly and only lasts for a split second. As far as eye conditions go I've been diagnosed with cataracts and keratoconus since I've been 18 and highly doubt those have anything to do with it. It maybe only happens to me once a day so I'm sure it would get annoying if it happened more frequently than that. Gonna have to ask my doctor about this next time.