Eyes Rolling Back in Head: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment – Healthline

Your eyes are capable of moving in many directions to view and track things in your environment. These movements are usually voluntary, but there can be times when your eyes move involuntarily, too.

Its possible that some health conditions may cause your eyes to move involuntarily in a specific way. One of these movements involves your eyes rolling back into your head.

There are several conditions that can cause your eyes to roll back in your head. Below, well discuss each condition in more detail, the symptoms to look out for, and the potential treatment options.

A seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in your brain. The brain is your bodys control center, sending and receiving messages via nerve cells that use electrical signals to communicate with each other.

The abnormal electrical activity from a seizure can temporarily disrupt various processes. This can lead to a variety of symptoms including eyes rolling back in the head.

Some of the other common symptoms include:

Most seizures last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Seizures can be an isolated episode, meaning that not everyone who experiences a seizure will have another one.

Seizures are often associated with a chronic condition called epilepsy. However, you can also have a seizure without having epilepsy.

Besides epilepsy, some potential causes of seizures include:

The specific treatment for a seizure depends on the underlying condition that caused it. Your doctor will first work to determine the cause of your seizure before recommending a treatment plan.

Seek immediate medical care if you or someone else:

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. Youre typically diagnosed with epilepsy when youve had two or more seizures that cant be explained by an existing medical condition.

Seizures due to epilepsy fall into two broad categories generalized and focal. People with epilepsy can experience both types.

Generalized seizures affect both hemispheres of the brain while focal seizures impact a specific area. Within each type of seizure, there are also many further subtypes.

The specific symptoms of a seizure can vary, depending on the type of seizure it is. With some types of generalized seizures, such as absence seizures, the eyes may roll back into the head.

Epilepsy can have many potential causes. However, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the cause is unknown in up to 50 percent of cases.

Some known causes of epilepsy include genetics, since epilepsy can run in families.

Epilepsy can also be caused by damage to the brain due to:

Epilepsy can be managed using:

Nystagmus is a condition in which your eyes move uncontrollably. This movement can be either fast or slow. It can also involve a combination of fast and slow movements.

There are several types of nystagmus. One of these is vertical nystagmus, in which the eyes move up and down uncontrollably. When this happens, it may sometimes appear as if someones eyes are rolling back in their head.

Other symptoms that can occur with nystagmus include:

Its possible to be born with nystagmus, which is known as congenital nystagmus. You can also develop nystagmus due to a health condition. Some conditions that are known to cause uncontrollable eye movements include:

Congenital nystagmus cant be cured, but eyeglasses or contact lenses can help improve vision.

In rare cases surgery may be recommended to adjust the positioning of the muscles that control eye movement so that you dont have to tilt or turn your head as much.

Its possible that acquired nystagmus may go away. This happens when the underlying cause is treated.

Make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider if you notice symptoms of nystagmus that you havent had before.

Fainting happens when you lose consciousness due to a sudden loss of blood flow to your brain. The medical term for fainting is syncope.

When someone loses consciousness, its possible that their eyes may roll back into their head before or when they fall down. Typically, an individual is only unconscious for a minute or two after theyve fainted.

Prior to fainting, you may experience a variety of symptoms, including:

The best way to immediately treat a fainting episode is to:

Most people recover from a fainting spell within a few minutes to hours. If your fainting is caused by a specific underlying condition, your doctor will work to treat that.

Make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider if you or someone else:

Get immediate medical attention if you or someone else:

Conditions that affect the midbrain can also result in unusual upward or downward eye movements known as vertical gaze palsy.

Your vertical gaze is controlled by your midbrain and, as a result, damage to this region may affect the way your eyes move up or down.

Its important to work with your doctor to determine the underlying cause of this condition. Some of the most common causes of vertical gaze palsy include:

Your eyes can roll back into your head for several reasons. The most common causes include seizures, fainting spells, or an eye condition called nystagmus.

Many times, your eyes rolling back and other accompanying symptoms is due to an underlying health condition. Oftentimes, your symptoms will go away when the underlying condition is treated. However, sometimes an exact cause cant be identified.

See your doctor if you have symptoms of nystagmus or fainting spells that are unexplained or may be due to medications. Seek immediate care for seizures or fainting spells that last a long time, lead to unresponsiveness, or happen after an injury.

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Eyes Rolling Back in Head: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - Healthline