15 Warning Signs Of Cerebellar Degeneration

5. Diplopia

Diplopia, double vision, may occur in one or both eyes. It's considered very serious if it persists when both eyes are open. With that said, diplopia in one eye when the other is closed is still considered serious. There are multiple causes of double vision. In some cases, the condition is caused by the muscles in the eyes. If one eye has weakened muscles, the eyes won't move in sync. This can occur because of weakened connections from the brain to the nerves that control the muscles. The nerves themselves might cause diplopia if they have trouble carrying information from the brain to the eyes. The optic nerves also connect straight to the brain. If the brain isn't processing images properly, that can cause double vision as well.

6. Nystagmus

Nystagmus is an involuntary, rhythmic oscillation of the eyes that often accompanies cerebellar degeneration. Patients may notice their vision “jumping” side to side, up and down, or even in a rotary motion. This occurs because the cerebellum normally fine-tunes the neural signals that stabilize gaze; when it’s impaired, the eyes can’t lock steadily on a target. Nystagmus can lead to blurred vision, dizziness, and difficulty reading. Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause, plus supportive measures like tinted lenses or vestibular therapy to help the brain compensate for unstable eye movements.