Øyebevindelse

Øyebevindelse is a Norwegian term that translates to "eye movement" or "ocular motility." It refers to the controlled and coordinated movements of the eyes that allow for vision and visual perception. These movements are essential for tracking objects, reading, navigating the environment, and maintaining visual stability.

The muscles attached to the eyeball are responsible for eye movement. There are six extrinsic eye muscles for each eye: the superior rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus, lateral rectus, superior oblique, and inferior oblique. These muscles work in conjunction to move the eye up, down, inward, outward, and to rotate it. This complex system is controlled by neural pathways originating in the brainstem and the cerebral cortex.

There are different types of eye movements. Saccades are rapid, ballistic movements that shift the gaze from one point of interest to another. Smooth pursuit movements allow the eyes to track a moving object smoothly. Vergence movements are used to align the eyes on a target at different distances, such as when focusing on a near object.

Disorders of eye movement can arise from various neurological conditions, injuries, or developmental issues. These can manifest as nystagmus (involuntary rhythmic movements), strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), or difficulties with visual tracking. Assessment of eye movements is a crucial part of a neurological and ophthalmological examination.