Oscillopsia: A Common Symptom of Bilateral Vestibular Loss

𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: This video is an example of what a patient with bilateral vestibular loss experiences while walking. Without a VOR, there is no mechanism to ensure retinal stability of the world with each head movement, and oscillopsia (illusion of movement of the stationary environment) is the result. Jumpy vision during ambulation or when driving on a bumpy road for example is highly suggestive of bilateral vestibular loss, and head impulse testing and evaluation of the VOR are warranted. Oscillopsia in these patients is not spontaneous (as it would be with nystagmus). To see the eye movements of a patient with abnormal VOR in addition to the oscillopsia, view item: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1213435 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼-𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱: This video is an example of what a patient with bilateral vestibular loss experiences while walking. Without a vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), there is no mechanism to ensure retinal stability of the world with each head movement, and oscillopsia (illusion of movement of the stationary environment) is the result. Jumpy vision during ambulation or when driving on a bumpy road for example is highly suggestive of bilateral vestibular loss, and head impulse testing and evaluation of the VOR are warranted. Head movement independent (‘sitting') oscillopsia is typically due nystagmus or saccadic intrusions/ oscillations. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1213442