Gaze-evoked nystagmus is considered physiological or pathological?

• A. Physiological
• B. Pathological
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (B)

Gaze-evoked nystagmus arises when the system that holds the eyes steady in an eccentric position is not functioning properly. Keeping gaze at an off-center position depends on neural integrators in the brainstem and cerebellum; when these fail, the eye drifts away and a corrective fast movement kicks in, producing the nystagmus you see during side-looking. This pattern is a sign of central disturbance or a drug effect rather than a normal reflex, so it’s considered pathological. In practice, a small, transient version can occur in healthy individuals after fatigue, but persistent or clearly present gaze-evoked nystagmus indicates an underlying pathology.