Central ocular motor abnormalities in Duane's retraction syndrome
A. Gourdeau, N. Miller, D. Zee and J. Morris
Duane's retraction syndrome (DRS) is a congenital eye movement disorder
characterized by marked limitation or absence of abduction, variable
limitation of adduction, and narrowing of the palpebral fissure with
retraction of the globe on attempted adduction. We have recently recorded
and quantitated ocular motility in five patients with unilateral DRS. In
all patients, abduction of the affected eye was greatly limited, whereas
adduction was limited, whereas adduction was limited to a lesser degree.
Abnormalities in saccadic velocities were found in both the affected eye
and the sound eye. Results of testing of the vestibulo-ocular reflex,
optokinetic nystagmus, and optokinetic afternystagmus showed notable
asymmetry. Our results suggest that DRS is produced by a primary brainstem
abnormality involving premotor structures.
