[Cyclotropia after unilateral vestibular damage].
Influence of unilateral peripheral vestibular lesion on cyclotorsion of both eyes was assessed by fundus photography. Control group was composed of 24 healthy individuals. Ten patients suffering from Acute Unilateral Peripheral Vestibulopathy (AUPV), which is the other name for vestibular neurolabyrinthitis, were examined at the beginning of the disease, and again after one year. Also 3 patients were examined that had undergone unilateral vestibular neurectomy about 10 years ago. In this paper we propose measurement of a single angle that defines tilt in the roll plane of both eyes at the same time. We propose this measurement of cyclotorsion of both eyes only after peripheral lesions because here vestibular influence is the same on both eyes (contrary to central lesions).


RESULTS
1) Both eyes tilt in healthy population varies equally around zero, from 5 degrees left to 5 degrees right; 2) Both eyes tilt in AUPV patients at the beginning of the disease was oriented to the side of the lesion 12.3 degrees in average which significantly differs from healthy subjects. Here, because of present nystagmus component in the roll plane taking only 1 photograph may result in error up to 5 degrees. Therefore, we took 5 photographs of each eye and calculated arithmetic mean; 3) Both eyes tilt in AUPV patients after one year has elapsed was 1.06 degrees to the lesion side and did not significantly differ from healthy subjects; 4) Vestibular neurectomy patients 10 years later showed 2 degrees tilt to the side of the lesion which also did not significantly differ from healthy subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
One year after AUPV and 10 years after vestibular neurectomy central compensation significantly diminished pathological cyclotorsion of both eyes. At the beginning of AUPV several photographs have to be taken (we recommend 5) to avoid error up to 5 degrees due to marked nystagmus component in roll plane. We recommend measurement and calculation of both eyes tilt angle as only one parameter that defines peripheral vestibular lesion influence on cyclotorsion of both eyes.
Babić
Borivoj
B
Institute of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade.
D000328:Adult; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013285:Strabismus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D020338:Vestibular Neuronitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery