The human fovea is relatively horizontally elongated in infantile nystagmus

Thomas, Nikita, Acton, Jennifer H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0347-7651, Erichsen, Jonathan T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1545-9853, Fergusson, James, White, Nick and Dunn, Matt J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0295-2182 2025. The human fovea is relatively horizontally elongated in infantile nystagmus. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 66 (14) , 56. 10.1167/iovs.66.14.56

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Abstract

Purpose: Infantile nystagmus (IN) is characterized by primarily horizontal, repetitive eye movements. IN develops in the first few months of life, in tandem with the postnatal development of the fovea. This study tested the hypothesis that the foveal pit is horizontally elongated in adults with IN, corresponding to the streak of the retina over which the image constantly oscillates. Methods: In 12 adults with IN (without associated conditions known to affect the fovea) and 12 healthy controls (age, sex, and ethnicity-matched), horizontal and vertically-orientated foveal images were acquired with a long-wavelength (λc 1040 nm) optical coherence tomography system. Horizontal and vertical foveal pit diameters were measured and the ratio between them (foveal shape factor). Results: Foveal shape factor (vertical/horizontal pit diameter ratio) was significantly lower (more horizontal) in participants with IN compared to controls (0.89 vs. 0.96, P = 0.006, BF10 = 4.14). Conclusions: IN is associated with significant relative horizontal elongation of the anatomical fovea. These results indicate that early-onset nystagmus and foveal structure could have a direct impact on each other during development. Future work should investigate whether these differences are present at the photoreceptor level.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Optometry and Vision Sciences
Publisher:	Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
ISSN:	0146-0404
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	1 December 2025
Date of Acceptance:	28 October 2025
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2025 15:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/182776

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