TY - JOUR

T1 - Saccadic eye movements in essential blepharospasm

AU - Lueck, C. J.

AU - Tanyeri, S.

AU - Crawford, Trevor

AU - Elston, J. S.

AU - Kennard, C.

PY - 1990

Y1 - 1990

N2 - To provide evidence of an organic pathology for essential (idiopathic) blepharospasm, reflex saccadic eye movements in response to randomly stepped visual targets were assessed in seven affected patients and seven age-matched controls using the magnetic scleral search coil technique. The results indicate a significant prolongation in latency and a reduction in gain of horizontal saccades, and an increase in latency and reduction of peak velocity of large downward saccades. These findings suggest an organic component to the aetiology of blepharospasm, the pathology of which also appears to involve the oculomotor system. The pattern of the oculomotor disorder does not allow specific localisation but is consistent with the underlying pathology being localised in the basal ganglia.

AB - To provide evidence of an organic pathology for essential (idiopathic) blepharospasm, reflex saccadic eye movements in response to randomly stepped visual targets were assessed in seven affected patients and seven age-matched controls using the magnetic scleral search coil technique. The results indicate a significant prolongation in latency and a reduction in gain of horizontal saccades, and an increase in latency and reduction of peak velocity of large downward saccades. These findings suggest an organic component to the aetiology of blepharospasm, the pathology of which also appears to involve the oculomotor system. The pattern of the oculomotor disorder does not allow specific localisation but is consistent with the underlying pathology being localised in the basal ganglia.

KW - Saccades

KW - Essential blepharospasm

KW - Basal ganglia

U2 - 10.1007/BF00314623

DO - 10.1007/BF00314623

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 2391543

VL - 237

SP - 226

EP - 229

JO - Journal of Neurology

JF - Journal of Neurology

SN - 0340-5354

IS - 4

ER -