title: The influence of visual vertigo and vestibulopathy on oculomotor responses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dynamic visual inputs can cause visual vertigo (VV) in patients with vestibulopathy, leading to dizziness and falls. This study investigated the influence of VV on oculomotor responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional, single-blind study, with experimental and control groups, 8 individuals with vestibulopathy and VV, 10 with vestibulopathy and no VV, and 10 healthy controls participated. Oculomotor responses were examined with 2-dimensional video-oculography. Participants were exposed to dynamic visual inputs of vertical stripes sweeping across a screen at 20 deg/sec, while seated or in Romberg stance, with and without a fixed target. Responses were quantified by optokinetic nystagmus frequency (OKNf) and gain (OKNg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seated with no target, VV participants had higher OKNf than controls (37 ± 9 vs. 24 ± 9 peaks/sec; P < 0.05). In Romberg stance with no target, they had higher OKNf than controls (41 ± 9 vs. 28 ± 10 peaks/sec; P < 0.05). With a target, OKNf was higher in VV participants compared to controls (7 ± 7 vs. 1 μ 2 peaks/sec; P < 0.05). In Romberg with no target, OKNg was higher in the VV group (0.8 ± 0.1) compared to controls (0.6 ± 0.2; P=0.024). OKNf and OKNg did not differ according to VV status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VV participants had increased OKNf and OKNg compared to healthy participants. Visual dependency should be considered in vestibular rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Oz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zur
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Services, Flieman Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dickstein
authors.affiliation: Feil and Oberfeld Research Centre, Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, Research Site of the Montreal Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Laval, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dannenbaum
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Haifa University, Social Welfare and Health Sciences, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carmeli
authors.affiliation: Feil and Oberfeld Research Centre, Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, Research Site of the Montreal Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Laval, QC, Canada School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000503:physiopathology; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017120:Nystagmus, Optokinetic / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014717:Vertigo / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests
keywords: Oculomotor; vestibulopathy; visual vertigo