Oscillopsia
The illusion that the world is moving, bouncing, or jiggling when it actually isn't — usually triggered by head movement.
Open VisualSim →What it looks like
Patients describe the world as appearing to shake, swim, or shimmer — especially during walking or rapid head movements. Reading street signs becomes hard. Letters on a page may seem to "swim" while reading. The amplitude is often small clinically (1–3 degrees) but the perceptual effect is unsettling and impairs reading and balance.
Common causes
Acquired nystagmus (the eyes drift slowly then snap back, or oscillate sinusoidally at 2–6 Hz), bilateral vestibular hypofunction (often from gentamicin antibiotic toxicity, where the inner ear motion sensors fail and the brain can't stabilize images on the retina during head movement), multiple sclerosis affecting the brainstem, or post-concussion syndrome.
When to see a doctor
New oscillopsia — especially after a recent illness, head injury, or course of certain antibiotics (aminoglycosides) — warrants evaluation by a neurologist or neuro-ophthalmologist. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy can help some causes.
Also known as
Bouncing vision · Visual world motion