Ophthalmoparesis

	WikiDoc Resources for Ophthalmoparesis
Articles
Most recent articles on Ophthalmoparesis Most cited articles on Ophthalmoparesis Review articles on Ophthalmoparesis Articles on Ophthalmoparesis in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Ophthalmoparesis Images of Ophthalmoparesis Photos of Ophthalmoparesis Podcasts & MP3s on Ophthalmoparesis Videos on Ophthalmoparesis
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Ophthalmoparesis Bandolier on Ophthalmoparesis TRIP on Ophthalmoparesis
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Ophthalmoparesis at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Ophthalmoparesis Clinical Trials on Ophthalmoparesis at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Ophthalmoparesis NICE Guidance on Ophthalmoparesis NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Ophthalmoparesis CDC on Ophthalmoparesis
Books
Books on Ophthalmoparesis
News
Ophthalmoparesis in the news Be alerted to news on Ophthalmoparesis News trends on Ophthalmoparesis
Commentary
Blogs on Ophthalmoparesis
Definitions
Definitions of Ophthalmoparesis
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Ophthalmoparesis Discussion groups on Ophthalmoparesis Patient Handouts on Ophthalmoparesis Directions to Hospitals Treating Ophthalmoparesis Risk calculators and risk factors for Ophthalmoparesis
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Ophthalmoparesis Causes & Risk Factors for Ophthalmoparesis Diagnostic studies for Ophthalmoparesis Treatment of Ophthalmoparesis
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Ophthalmoparesis
International
Ophthalmoparesis en Espanol Ophthalmoparesis en Francais
Business
Ophthalmoparesis in the Marketplace Patents on Ophthalmoparesis
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Ophthalmoparesis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Ophthalmoparesis is a physical finding in certain neurologic illnesses. It refers to paralysis of the extraocular muscles which are responsible for eye movements. It can refer to complete paralysis of the eyes, in which case it is synonymous with ophthalmoplegia. More usually, it refers to a partial paralysis, in contrast to the complete paralysis denoted by ophthalmoplegia.

Classification

Ophthalmoparesis can involve any or all of the extraocular muscles, which include the superior recti, inferior recti, medial recti, lateral recti, inferior oblique and superior oblique muscles.

It can also be classified by the directions of affected movements, e.g. "vertical ophthalmoparesis".

Types of ophthalmoplegia are:

Causes

Ophthalmoparesis can result from disorders of various parts of the eye and nervous system:

The orbit of the eye, including mechanical restrictions of eye movement, as in Graves disease.
The muscle, as in progressive external ophthalmoplegia or Kearns-Sayre syndrome
The neuromuscular junction, as in myasthenia gravis.
The cranial nerves or their brainstem nuclei of the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens.
White matter tracts in the brainstem, as in internuclear ophthalmoplegia, an occasional finding in multiple sclerosis.
Injury to supranuclear structures, as in progressive supranuclear palsy.
Very rarely, disorders of higher brain structures, including the parietal lobes of the cerebral cortex.

Thiamine deficiency can cause ophthalmoparesis in susceptible persons; this is part of the syndrome called Wernicke encephalopathy. The causal pathway by which this occurs is unknown. Intoxication with certain substances, such as phenytoin, can also cause ophthalmoparesis.

Differentiating Opthalmoparesis from other Conditions

Acute cranial polyneuropathy
Adie syndrome
Bilateral third nerve involvement
Botulism
Brainstem stroke
Diptheria
Drugs
Iris injury
Meningitis
Myasthenia gravis
Tetanus
Midbrain lesion
Vasculitis

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment and prognosis depend on the underlying condition.