My name is Allison and I have had N since i was born. I am now 17. In May of 2001 i had surgery to slow down the eyemovement. It helped a little bit but i still struggle. The first time i went in to get my permit i failed the eye exam. the next time i wnet in I passed because i had memorized the chart. Im writing this because i am interested in talking to someone who struggles with the same thing i have fought my whole life. I have read a lot of peoples entries and they are all very interesting.

Wassup

im dan from the uk (yeah that little island accross the water :) ) i have congential nystagmus and i dont currently drive but would like to, not that bothered tho seeing as i havent been able to for the last 2years.

I think that you just have to deal with nystagmus in your own way, things arent easy and as you have had it since birth you, i and most people here will have learnt to deal with it what helps is places like this that you can share your struggles with and hope that someone can guide you throught

Dan

i have had nystagmus since birth i am 44 years old i have a drivers license but had to get a dr note to pass the eyes exam i have learned to adjust to my limitations but there isnt much i cant do

hello,
I am 14 years old and have had congenital nystagmus since i was 10 weeks old. I am so glad that there are other people out there who understand nystagmus and how hard it is to live with. I also have a lot of other eye problems and i only have 30% vision which means its very doubtful that i will ever be able to drive a car. I am hoping and praying that one day there will be a cure for nystagmus so another generation doesnt have to go through the hell ive been thru

My name is Shardey. I've had nystagmus since I was born, It's always been hard for me to deal with but especially now since I'm 17 and want to drive. I've just recently discovered this site and it's comforting to know that other people have the same problem I do. One day I hope to become an Optometrist and help others with their visual problems.

I would just like to share something that happened to me one morining I woke up.
Well I had decided to go to sleep and while I was laying in bed I was thinking "would my nystagmus ever go away?!" I was real dissapointed that day and started to try something with my eyes. I shut my eyes but in a different way, instead of just shutting them like I usally do (normaly) when I go to bed.. I decided to shut my eyes but put a little bit of pressure on them while they were closed but not to much (not squeesin them) just shutting them with pressure. Well I fell asleep like this (accidently) and the next morining I woke up but was kind of drowzy, I looked around and everything seemed different (bigger and clear) but I didnt know what to think because I had just woken up and was still tired (but it was different) ... I know something had happened but maybe next time I will ask someone...

hey i'm Brittany i'm 16 and i live in Canada. i havent found any Canadian nystagmus sites yet.anyways i have nystagmus *since birth* when i was a couple months old i had surgery to stop me from going cross eyes trying to see straight. i have grown to deal with N in my own way and i hardly notice it anymore. i have heard of people being bullied about it but i havent exsperienced that, i'm so lucky i thank the lord for everything he gave me. When i see someone on the streets with a servere prblem it makes me wonder why i complain about not being able to drive. yea i wont be able to drive but at least i have all my limbs and i'm a typical teenage girl. nothing can stand in my, when i graduate drving wont be an issue, these's many different means of transportation. *or i'll get a husband with a limo so he can shofer me around* lol.. anyways if anyone would like to chat email me. LPchick2k4@yahoo.ca

Hey all, I'm Josh. I'm 22 and have had Nystagmus since I was born. My case is more mild; I am able to drive a car, I have no problem reading books, I have no life-altering limitations. Learning to drive was a bit of a chore though. I had to train myself to be mroe observant that the average driver because things that others would see off in the distance would appear only much closer for me. In my classes, I have to sit near the front to see the board and my Nystagmus causues my head to shake if I'm not paying attention.

MY name is Joel and I had to deal with the exact same thing as you did, and let me tell you how. I've had Congenital Nystagmus since birth... but its gotten to the point where I should legally be allowed to drive. There was just something with the type of test the DMV uses... that machine you look into, that I couldn't do. When my eye specialist tested me I was 20/50 with glasses, but I miserably failed the DMV's test. If your vision is that good or even close, ask your eye doctor about the vision test release form. The DMV accepts this in lieu of taknig the eye test.

i also have congenital nystagmus, the way you talk about it as an bad desieas it is, but look on the bright side at least we have visiob. Im 17 and trying for the army I fInd that in day to day life it dosn't bother me and as far as my eyes twitching back and forth people think its kinda neat so look on the bright side of things at least we can see. I my self also hope for a cure
I got my learners no problem but i thbk it was a fluke

Hello My name is Darren and I am 19 years of age living in Ontario, Canada. I have a sever condition of CN which I have had all my life. This condition puts me in legaly blind status. I have found it difficult to cope with N in all areas of life but I have learned to deal with it. I make every effort to live to the fullest. Indipendantly I have traveled to many places as that is somthing I enjoy doing. I have also sucessfully completed my High School and my first year of College. This disability has been a barier to driving as I can't get my licenence but I always like to look on the positive side of things.