Oculomotor evaluation in patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction

Abstract

Fixed saccadic movement latency and speed, randomized saccadic movement latency, precision and speed, pendular tracking gain, slow component angular speed, and optokinetic nystagmus gain in the digital vectonystagmography may show abnormalities in patients with possible diagnosis of peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

Oculomotor Test Changes in Patients with Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction

“…When the gain values were evaluated in the smooth pursuit test, statistically significant differences were observed (10). In our study we found that the smooth pursuit test was pathological in 14.2% of patients with unilateral vestibular weakness and in 30.0% of patients with bilateral vestibular weakness.…”

“…Among the oculomotor tests, saccade maintains the position of an image of a target over the fovea in the case of quick eye movement (10). Saccade functions, especially latency and velocity, improve with age via development of the prefrontal function and brain myelination, visual maturation and development of the cerebral cortex (9).…”

“…Saccade functions, especially latency and velocity, improve with age via development of the prefrontal function and brain myelination, visual maturation and development of the cerebral cortex (9). Saccade can be impaired in cases of intoxication such as anticonvulsive or benzodiazepine use and in neurodegenerative disorders such as brainstem lesions, midbrain lesion, progressive supranuclear palsy, cerebellum or cerebellar pathways (17 peripheral vestibular disorder and claimed that vestibulo oculomotor dysfunction may be a sign of peripheral dysfunction as well as central nervous system impairment (10). In our study, we found that the optokinetic gain values were normal in the bilateral vestibular weakness and unilateral vestibular weakness groups.…”

“…Optokinetic produces slow pursuit movements or quick fixation movements in response to image movements. Optokinetic nystagmus occurs rhythmically, involuntarily, unconsciously and automatically (10). Optokinetic function is related to vestibular nuclei, nucleus of the optic track, accessory optic system, cerebral cortex, temporal lobes, and parietal lobes (9).…”

“…There are few studies investigating the relationship between peripheral vestibular weakness and oculomotor tests (10,11). In a study, smooth pursuit pathology was detected in 41% and saccade pathology was detected in 9% of patients with bilateral vestibular weakness (11).…”