Eyes Rolling Back In Head: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - Healthline

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What Can Cause Your Eyes to Roll Back?

Medically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, PhD on January 22, 2021

Seizures
Epilepsy
Nystagmus
Fainting
Midbrain damage
Bottom line

An image showing the top part of a man's head, with his eyes rolling upward. — Johner Images/Getty Images

Your eyes are capable of moving in many directions to view and track things in your environment. These movements are usually voluntary, but there can be times when your eyes move involuntarily, too.

It’s possible that some health conditions may cause your eyes to move involuntarily in a specific way. One of these movements involves your eyes rolling back into your head.

There are several conditions that can cause your eyes to roll back in your head. Below, we’ll discuss each condition in more detail, the symptoms to look out for, and the potential treatment options.

How seizures may cause your eyes to roll back

A seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in your brain. The brain is your body’s control center, sending and receiving messages via nerve cells that use electrical signals to communicate with each other.

The abnormal electrical activity from a seizure can temporarily disrupt various processes. This can lead to a variety of symptoms — including eyes rolling back in the head.

Some of the other common symptoms include:

convulsions, which are uncontrolled muscle contractions and relaxations that cause twitching or jerky movements
stiffening of the body or limbs
mental confusion
loss of consciousness
staring
biting your tongue
losing control of your bladder or bowels (incontinence)

Most seizures last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Seizures can be an isolated episode, meaning that not everyone who experiences a seizure will have another one.

Causes of seizures

Seizures are often associated with a chronic condition called epilepsy. However, you can also have a seizure without having epilepsy.

Besides epilepsy, some potential causes of seizures include:

fever, such as in febrile seizures in children or due to infections like meningitis
electrolyte imbalances
sleep deprivation
certain medications, such as some types of antidepressants and pain medications
withdrawal from alcohol or drugs
drug overdose
stroke
head injuries
brain tumors

Treatment for seizures

The specific treatment for a seizure depends on the underlying condition that caused it. Your doctor will first work to determine the cause of your seizure before recommending a treatment plan.

When to get medical care

Seek immediate medical care if you or someone else:

has a seizure for the first time
has a seizure following an injury
gets injured while having a seizure
is unresponsive or not breathing after a seizure
has a seizure that lasts longer than a few minutes
has several seizures in a row
has underlying health conditions, such as a heart condition or diabetes, and has a seizure

How epilepsy may cause your eyes to roll back

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. You’re typically diagnosed with epilepsy when you’ve had two or more seizures that can’t be explained by an existing medical condition.

Seizures due to epilepsy fall into two broad categories — generalized and focal. People with epilepsy can experience both types.

Generalized seizures affect both hemispheres of the brain while focal seizures impact a specific area. Within each type of seizure, there are also many further subtypes.

The specific symptoms of a seizure can vary, depending on the type of seizure it is. With some types of generalized seizures, such as absence seizures, the eyes may roll back into the head.

Causes of epilepsy

Epilepsy can have many potential causes. However, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the cause is unknown in up to 50 percent of cases.

Some known causes of epilepsy include genetics, since epilepsy can run in families.

Epilepsy can also be caused by damage to the brain due to:

stroke
head injuries
brain tumors
lack of oxygen at birth
infections, such as meningitis, encephalitis, or HIV
Alzheimer’s disease

Treatment for epilepsy

Epilepsy can be managed using:

Anti-seizure medications: There are many types of anti-seizure medication. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) medications are effective for 2 out of 3 people with epilepsy.
Surgery: In people with focal seizures, surgery may be used to remove the area of the brain in which the seizure originates.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS): VNS may be used when medication isn’t effective for managing seizures. It uses a device implanted under the skin of your chest to stimulate the vagus nerve, helping to reduce seizures.
Dietary changes: Following a ketogenic diet may be beneficial for individuals with some types of epilepsy.

How nystagmus may cause your eyes to roll back

Nystagmus is a condition in which your eyes move uncontrollably. This movement can be either fast or slow. It can also involve a combination of fast and slow movements.

There are several types of nystagmus. One of these is vertical nystagmus, in which the eyes move up and down uncontrollably. When this happens, it may sometimes appear as if someone’s eyes are rolling back in their head.

Other symptoms that can occur with nystagmus include:

dizziness or vertigo
blurry vision
oscillopsia, which is when you feel like the world around you is shaking or vibrating
holding your head in a tilted or turned position
sensitivity to light

Causes of nystagmus

It’s possible to be born with nystagmus, which is known as congenital nystagmus. You can also develop nystagmus due to a health condition. Some conditions that are known to cause uncontrollable eye movements include:

stroke
head injury
brain tumor
multiple sclerosis
inner ear problems like Meniere’s disease
eye conditions, such as cataracts or crossed eyes
albinism
using alcohol or illegal drugs
certain medications, such as anti-seizure medications or lithium

Treatment for nystagmus

Congenital nystagmus can’t be cured, but eyeglasses or contact lenses can help improve vision.

In rare cases surgery may be recommended to adjust the positioning of the muscles that control eye movement so that you don’t have to tilt or turn your head as much.

It’s possible that acquired nystagmus may go away. This happens when the underlying cause is treated.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider if you notice symptoms of nystagmus that you haven’t had before.

How fainting may cause your eyes to roll back

Fainting happens when you lose consciousness due to a sudden loss of blood flow to your brain. The medical term for fainting is syncope.

When someone loses consciousness, it’s possible that their eyes may roll back into their head before or when they fall down. Typically, an individual is only unconscious for a minute or two after they’ve fainted.

Prior to fainting, you may experience a variety of symptoms, including:

feeling dizzy or lightheaded
weakness
sweating
nausea
blurry vision

Treatment for fainting

The best way to immediately treat a fainting episode is to:

move to a cool, quiet area
lie down or sit down with your head between your knees
drink some cool water

Most people recover from a fainting spell within a few minutes to hours. If your fainting is caused by a specific underlying condition, your doctor will work to treat that.

When to seek medical care

Make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider if you or someone else:

faints or loses consciousness with no obvious cause
has repeated fainting or dizzy spells

Get immediate medical attention if you or someone else:

loses consciousness following an injury
gets injured while fainting
has an underlying health condition and a sudden fainting spell
is unresponsive or not breathing after a fainting spell

How midbrain damage may cause your eyes to roll back

Conditions that affect the midbrain can also result in unusual upward or downward eye movements known as vertical gaze palsy.

Your vertical gaze is controlled by your midbrain and, as a result, damage to this region may affect the way your eyes move up or down.

Causes of vertical gaze palsy

It’s important to work with your doctor to determine the underlying cause of this condition. Some of the most common causes of vertical gaze palsy include:

a brain tumor in the midbrain region or pineal gland
hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the skull
a stroke in the midbrain
neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, or Parkinson’s disease
infections such as Whipple’s disease or encephalitis
a drug overdose
traumatic brain injury

The bottom line

Your eyes can roll back into your head for several reasons. The most common causes include seizures, fainting spells, or an eye condition called nystagmus.

Many times, your eyes rolling back and other accompanying symptoms is due to an underlying health condition. Oftentimes, your symptoms will go away when the underlying condition is treated. However, sometimes an exact cause can’t be identified.

See your doctor if you have symptoms of nystagmus or fainting spells that are unexplained or may be due to medications. Seek immediate care for seizures or fainting spells that last a long time, lead to unresponsiveness, or happen after an injury.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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What is nystagmus? (2020).https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-nystagmus

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Medically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, PhD on January 22, 2021

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