What is Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)?

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is how your eyes stay steady when you move your head.

Imagine you're on a wild rollercoaster, and as it twists and turns, your eyes keep focused on the world outside, not blurry or wobbly. That’s the VOR at work! It helps you see clearly even when things are shaking around you.

When you move your head, like turning to look at something, tiny sensors inside your ears notice the movement. These sensors send a message to your brain, and then your brain tells your eyes to move in the opposite direction. This keeps what you're looking at steady in your vision, just like a picture on a wall doesn’t shake when you walk past it.

Without the VOR, your world would feel all wobbly, like trying to read a book while spinning around. But with it, you can ride bikes, play catch, and even dance without losing track of what’s happening around you!