Nystagmus findings in healthy subjects examined with infrared videonystagmoscopy

The increased use of videosystems for the detection of nystagmus is a new d iagnostic tool in the diagnosis of patients with vestibular disorders. Smal l video cameras mounted in a light sealed mask visualize the eyes which are illuminated with infrared light. Compared to the well-established use of F renzel glasses the patient has no visual references at all, This new techni que requires standards for normal limits. Thirty subjects between 20 and 78 years of age with no history of vestibular disorders were examined with in frared video-oculoscopy with the gaze in primary position, after head-shake and in supine position with head torsion and Dix-Hallpike positions backwa rd and forward according to a standardized procedure at our department. Two subjects had spontaneous nystagmus, but nystagmus after head-shake was not found in any. No subject had torsional nystagmus in the Dix-Hallpike posit ions. In the elderly subjects horizontal nystagmus in head hanging position was a frequent finding. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.