Dancing Eyes

The Dancing Eye Syndrome (DES) is so called because of the very abnormal eye movements which are almost invariably present in this rare condition. Unlike the oscillating movements of nystagmus, eye movements are chaotic and best described as dancing. They are jerky and correspond with jerky movements which develop in the limbs particularly the arms. These movements give the Dancing Eye Syndrome its other name of opsoclonus-myoclonus, referring respectively to the jerky eye and limb movements. DES was first described in the 1950s by Kinsbourne and Sandifer, Neurologists at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London. The condition mostly affects children though occasionally infants and adults are also affected.