I have had nystagmus since birth, and one major problem I have had is the ability to recognize people that I only see briefly. If I run into my parents somewhere unexpectedly, I can tell who they are, but if I see a someone at a party, I won't recognize them the next day or sometime in the future if they show up somewhere else. This gives me a competitive disadvantage in social situations, since I have found that people with good vision can spot people they've seen before and use that familiarity to approach them.
Another thing that comes to mind is that in college, everybody knew my name, and expected me to recognize them, and they were offended that I didn't. I know that part of it is because of my lack of perfect vision, but is it possible that some people are just too abrupt to get to know me?

I was born with oculotaneous Albinism and my vision is 20/200 due to nystagmus/lack of foveal development. I know exactly what you mean when you speak of a competitive disadvantage in social situations due to the inability to recognize others. I am very sociable and make friends easily but people become aloof when they you walk right on bye them without greeting them and recognizing them by name. I wish I had some solution I could offer you with regard to this issue. Others have mentioned that I should explain to people about my visual limitations at the outset so that they understand that I am not ignoring them. However, I find it very uncomfortable to share information about my visual limitations (legally blind) with persons whom I have just become acquainted. The fact is that functionally I am able to "pass" for having good vision (ie I don't use a cane or guide-dug, and I am able to navigate through unfimiliar places very well -- people who do know about my vision often remark about how well I function and that if they didn't know better they would assume that I am normally sighted). On the other hand, once I know someone well enough to disclose my visual limitations to them, the non-recognition problem is solved (at least for those people with whome I share). No doubt, I have lost out on many potential good friendships and opportunities to get-to-know potential girlfriend's.
I wish you all the best in your efforts to resolve this issue -- it certainly plagues me to this very day.

P.S. Sometime ago I posted an article about my experiences in not recognizing people visually to the Albinism webboards -- now that the webboards have been re-initialized, perhaps I should re-post my article and see what people have to say.

Hoi friends, my son from 8 years heav also such a rare problem that he sometimes donīt know wahat he did for a 5 minutes ago or who was just visiting our place. I am aware that he misses some know how of what is going on. He has Nystagmus from bird, we help him a lot ; all the kids in his group on school know he has a kind of problem with seeing and thatīs why he moves his had.

I am 34 (MALE) with I guess would be CN(born with it). I feel bad because I never EVEN tried to get it fixxed.. I just adapted the best I could to anything. Like shooting a gun. I couldn't see the target to well.. I just images it was there (align it the best I could since it was blurry) and then compensated for my head bobbing and eyes moving.. When they would move the least thats when I would shoot.. I was the only one who could should target at NITE!!and hit them!!!
I have been to eye doctors for glasses and they w ould tell me I have nystagmus but that was it.. never "Here is a docotor who can help!" Infact when I asked for someone they all looked at me like I was crazy. Telling me "No one really knows what causes it and how to fix it" I even tried getting checked out for Lasiz and Rk.. Once they figured out I have it(Nystagmus) they tell me we can't help you and no one in their right mind will do the operation on your eyes (Lasik,RK). I do notice I have all the symptoms people mention here and I can say I have some others not listed. I see snow/spots (snow like on a tv) in the center of my eyes..I was told its because I am really nearsighted. I think I was told I was 20/400 in my bad eye and 20/300 in my good eye.. Don't worry if your in Chicago.. I Don't drive.. When I was first told about my eye I knew I would never marry or even date so I pursed my career early as a geek. I used to get picked on by my "TWIN" and older brothers regularly. Of course when I get tired they jump more and more.. Have the head tilt and bobbing sometimes.. In fact I can MAKE them jump and stop it.. I can't stop it if it does it on its own.. I can only stop it if I start it. I didn't tell everyone about my eyes.. Only a few.. some figured I was blind.. I guess I got lucky because i did finally date a little and got married. My wife drives me to and rom work.. The Kids are hard some times.. "Daddy drive to the park, Daddy take me to the library." I can't take them anywhere unless the whole family goes.. really lots of fun.
I have 2 girls.. I am luckyin a way.. I can't play football or hit a baseball so since I don't have a boy there is a good chance they won't ask me to teach them.. I will try when they do..
One girl is 4 and the other is 9..
I make carp ayments on a car I cannot drive!!!!
Its even in my name and not my wifes.
Now that sucks..
Well sorry for the rant..
Shawn

Shawn:

I am a 38 year-old male who also has CN and does not drive.

I live in Chicago and would like to meet you sometime (I have never met anyone else with CN).

My e-mail is kdb1841@yahoo.com. Let me know if you are up for it. Perhaps we can meet up and talk about our common experiences.

Kevin

If i know what a person is wearing I am able to regonise them from a far by the colors and shap of their body. Luckly I am not color blind.. I usualy remember peoples shapes and how they walk to I can see them afar. Its been pretty helpful for me.. They ask how do you know who that is when you can't see.. Then I tell them.. My best friend thought I was joking about my eyes until he came to an eye doctor with me. Now he is amzed on what I have been doing. I used to work for a computer company doing tech support and moved all the way up to IT dept. Him and I where the only senior techs. They would pull us from working on the network to building computers when they had a huge order or when they need to make sure things work(For special clients). We would build/test over 500 machines aday by ourselves. I had to memories all of out parts and settings.. Since I can't see to well... Everyone came to me for settings of all devices because I knew them all.
I am sure they all know I can't see to well, since I am close to the monitor then normal people.. I would say about maybe 12-15 inches away.. I know the people where I work at now know there is something wroung. I only told a few.

My 2min on the soap box

Is there anybody living with nystagmus in Colorado?