Can anyone help? Worried about son's odd eye movements

[Deerland]

My five year old son has developed an odd 'habit' with his eyes. When talking to someone or bored or when's he's meant to be listening/ concentrating - he flicks his eyes around rapidly like he is watching a light darting around the room (it's hard to explain!). He seems to be in control of it as will stop if we ask his too, and doesn't do it watching tv or very engaged in something. But he does it ALOT, it's like a nervous twitch and very noticeable. School think it's an anxiety thing, I think I agree, or nervous habit (though sort of similar). Any help?

Has he been checked for nystagmus?

No JustMarried hadn't even heard of that! But looking at the videos - that is more flickering side to side, whereas his darts all over the place... but worth checking.

Sounds like it could be a tic. Has he had it long or had any other habits as tics can change.

Hi 4forksake it started around the beginning of this academic year. He can control it, and he says he "does on purpose but now his eyes just do it themselves"... He is struggling at school, and I wonder if it is an anxiety thing. It happens a lot at school or in the house, but not when we are outside - he is a very outdoor child and we have a farm and woodland - it never seems to happen in these environments.

It's probably a tic. You need to ignore it and not say anything. Drawing attention to it won't stop it and will probably prolong it. When my son had a tic with his eyes I took him to the optician just to check there wasn't a problem with his eyes. I just told him that people go for eye check ups. I spoke to the optician beforehand about the tic but it wasn't mentioned in my son's presence. The tic just disappeared of its own accord.

As the pp said, maybe take him for an eye test to make sure his eyes are ok, but I'd guess it's a tic. My son has them & they sound similar. They're always worse when he's stressed, worried, excited. If the optician says all is ok, try to ignore it as much as possible. It may go away, it may wax & wane or it may manifest in to something else if it is a tic. Just keep an eye on it for a few months.