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Head Posture

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What Is Head Posture?

Sometimes, you may need to use a head posture to make your eyes feel more comfortable. This can be when you turn your head to one side, lift or lower your chin or tilt your head to one side. Head postures are adopted if there is a weakness in one of the eye muscles or one of the nerves that supply your eye muscles. You may be aware of double vision in a certain position and you may find that moving your head may help correct this and may your eyes feel more comfortable.

Head postures can also occur with wobbly eyes (nystagmus). When you are born with nystagmus, the wobbling movement may improve when the eyes are moved into a certain position which can make the vision clearer and more stable. This in turn will automatically make you move your head into the position where your eyes feel more comfortable.

Many parents of children with nystagmus will notice their children holding their head in a certain position when reading/writing to help them see better. Your orthoptist will be able to explain why you or your child are using a head posture as it is usually associated with an eye muscle weakness.