Vestibular Impairment in Patients with Vertigo and Oscillopsia

Some patients with vertigo also experince oscillopsia. Oscillopsia is an important factor in falling and imbalance of patients with vestibular vertigo due to decrease in visual acuity during movements. The presence of Oscillopsia can increase patients' problems. The objectives of this study were evaluation of Oscillopsia in patients with vertigo with interview, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and evaluations of vestibular ocular reflexes.

First, we identified 50 patients with vertigo and Oscillopsia with interviews. Then, patients were evaluated by Dizziness Handicap Inventory, dynamic visual acuity (DVA) and video head impulse test (vHIT). These results and other characteristics such as age, sex and duration of vertigo were evaluated.

The mean age was 50.8 (±16.9) years old. 68% were female and 54% had chronic vertigo. All of the study population were diagnosed with Oscillopsia at the interview. Some of patients were unable to perform DVAT and fill DHI. vHIT was performed in all patients. It showed bilateral, unilateral deficits and normal results in 31 (62%), 13 (26%) and 6 (12%), respectively. Although, the deficits were observed in some canals and not all of them.

These results show that different factors have a role in Oscillopsia. Also, the severity of Oscillopsia is different in many patients.