‖ nystagmus Path.
(nɪˈstægməs)
[mod.L., ad. Gr. νυσταγµός nodding, drowsiness, f. νυστάζειν to nod, to be sleepy.]
† 1. (See quot.) Obs.
| 1822 Good Study Med. III. 238 Habitual squinting... The first of these varieties constitutes the Nystagmus of Dr. Plenck. |
2. An involuntary oscillation of the eyeball, usually lateral, but sometimes rotatory or vertical, especially common among miners. Also Comb.
| 1869 Eng. Mech. 10 Dec. 294/3 One very curious affection of the muscles of the eye..deserves notice,..—Nystagmus... The motion of the ball..is ceaseless, as if the eye was making vain endeavours to glimpse the light. 1879 G. C. Harlan Eyesight viii. 111 An affection noticed in miners, and called ‘miner's nystagmus’, in which..the eyes continually oscillate. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 89 In addition to tremors, there may be nystagmus-like twitchings of the eyeball. |