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New research · Ophthalmology
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 13h
Cross-sectionalInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026

Longitudinal Changes in Nystagmus Following Late Treatment for Congenital Blindness.

Chetan Ralekar, Marin Vogelsang, Lukas Vogelsang … Pawan Sinha
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OphthalmologyCross-sectional

Nystagmus magnitude fell 1.7-fold in the year after sight-restoring cataract surgery

Longitudinal Changes in Nystagmus Following Late Treatment for Congenital Blindness.

Chetan Ralekar … Pawan Sinha
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026
Purpose

The purpose of this study was to quantify longitudinal changes in nystagmus following sight surgery for congenital blindness using a low-cost smartphone-based technique, in order to gain insight into the plasticity of oculomotor control late in childhood.

Methods

Thirteen children aged 6 to 16 years (mean = 9.5 years, 9 girls) were surgically treated for bilateral congenital cataracts as part of Project Prakash in India.

1.7-fold
Results
1.7-fold
eye-shake severity checked yearly after surgery - magnitude dropped, meaning steadier gaze
More results

Cross-sectional comparisons indicate stabilization by approximately 1 year postoperatively.

Variability across individuals was not explained by visual acuity, age at surgery, or eye axial length.

Binocular recordings revealed strong interocular coordination despite persistent nystagmus.

“
Conclusion · 1 of 2

Sight restoration after prolonged congenital blindness yields significant but incomplete reductions in nystagmus, indicating notable but circumscribed neural plasticity in the oculomotor system beyond infancy.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of smartphone-based quantification of nystagmus in resource-limited settings, these results reinforce the importance of early visual input for calibrating eye movements and highlight important paths for rehabilitation.

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