The effects of congenital nystagmus surgery

Abstract

Anderson-Kestenbaum operations for congenital nystagmus with severe head turn have been employed for the past 25 years. They have been documented as being effective in correcting head turns associated with congenital nystagmus. We have studied a group of patients with congenital nystagmus and head turn, both preoperatively and postoperatively, by means of recordings of eye movements. We have documented the effect of surgery in shifting the null position, in broadening the null position, and in lowering the nystagmus intensity. In some cases, an improvement of the visual acuity has also occurred.