Oscillopsia: impaired vision during motion in the absence of the vestibulo-ocular reflex
- Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center and University Hospitals, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106–5000, USA. Telephone 001 216 844 3190; fax 001 216 844 5066; email:rjl4@po.cwru.edu
The vestibuloocular reflex evolved to guarantee clear vision of the environment during perturbations of the head, especially those occurring during locomotion.1 This point was elegantly made by the anonymous physician, JC, who had lost his “balancing mechanism” as a consequence of toxic doses of streptomycin2:
”During a walk I found too much motion in my visual picture of the surroundings to permit recognition of fine detail. I learned that I must stand still in order to read the lettering on a sign.”
However, with time, such symptoms partially abate. Thus, JC reported that he was able to return to …
