BPPV, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, can be easy to diagnose subjectively, but watching eyes can be difficult. The following is a chart illustrating the direction of eye movement, position of your patient’s head, and the corresponding diagnosis.
BPPV Diagnosis | Nystagmus | Position |
Right Posterior Canal Canalithiasis | Right Upbeating Torsional Nystagmus | Right Dix-Hallpike Position |
Left Posterior Canal Canalithiasis | Left Upbeating Torsional Nystagmus | Left Dix-Hallpike Position |
Right Horizontal Canal Canalithiasis | More intense Right Geotropic Nystagmus | Right Roll Test (compared to Left Roll Test Position) |
Left Horizontal Canal Canalithiasis | More intense Left Geotropic Nystagmus | Left Roll Test (compared to Right Roll Test position) |
Right Horizontal Canal Cupulolithiasis | Less intense Right Ageotropic & more intense Left Ageotropic nystagmus | Right or Left Roll Test position respectively |
Left Horizontal Canal Cupulolithiasis | Less intense Left Ageotropic & more intense Right Ageotropic nystagmus | Left or Right Roll Test position Respectively |
Right Anterior Canal Canalithiasis | Downbeating (and sometimes torsional) Nystagmus | Left Dix-Hallpike Position |
Left Anterior Canal Canalithiasis | Downbeating (and sometimes torsional) Nystagmus | Right Dix-Hallpike Position |