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Are They Really Harbingers of Serious Intracranial Disease?

Peter J. Savino, MD; Jan K. Hilliker, MD; Gary H. Casell, MD; Norman J. Schatz, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1982;100(9):1442-1444.

Abstract
• Abducens palsies are encountered frequently in ophthalmologic practice and are usually benign transient deficits. When a sixth nerve palsy lasts longer than three months, conventional wisdom dictates an extensive investigation. In this report, we describe 38 patients with chronic, isolated sixth nerve palsies. The patient who is seen initially with an abducens palsy should undergo thorough medical and neurologic examinations to determine if the palsy is isolated. If it is isolated, the condition is not likely due to serious intracranial disease despite a duration of greater than three months.

Author Affiliations
From the Neuro-ophthalmology Unit (Drs Savino, Hilliker, and Schatz), Wills Eye Hospital (Dr Casell), Philadelphia; and the Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (Drs Savino and Schatz), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr Hilliker is now at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pa.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Aug 5, 1981.

Reprint requests to Neuro-ophthalmology Unit, Wills Eye Hospital, Ninth and Walnut streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (Dr Savino).

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