Palsy of "fast" and "slow" vergence by pontine lesions.
The role of pontine nuclei in vergence eye movements to "step" targets ("fast" vergence) is unknown. Eye movements were recorded in two patients with unilateral pontine infarctions and in 11 healthy controls. In addition to the deficit of "slow" vergence, "fast" vergence was particularly impaired. However, conjugate saccades did not differ from controls, but smooth pursuit eye movements did. The authors conclude that "fast" vergence palsy is not only caused by midbrain but also upper pontine lesions.
Rambold
Holger
H
Department of Neurology, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Luebeck, Germany. Holger.Rambold@neuro.uni-luebeck.de
Sander
Thurid
T
Neumann
Gunnar
G
Helmchen
Christoph
C
D000368:Aged; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003290:Convergence, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D011149:Pons / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors