Brown syndrome

Brown Syndrome is a rare eye disorder that is usually present at birth (congenital). It is characterized by an inability to elevate the eyeball when trying to move the eyeball inward towards the nose.

Overview

Brown Syndrome was first described by Harold W. Brown in 1950. It is a form of strabismus, a condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. In Brown Syndrome, the superior oblique muscle, which helps to move the eye upward and inward, is thought to be restricted in its movement. This restriction may be due to an abnormality in the trochlea, a pulley-like system through which the superior oblique muscle passes.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of Brown Syndrome is an inability to elevate the affected eye when it is in the adducted (inward) position. This can result in diplopia (double vision) when the person looks up and to the side. Other symptoms may include mild strabismus when the person looks straight ahead, and a head tilt in the opposite direction of the affected eye in an attempt to compensate for the eye misalignment.

Causes

Brown Syndrome can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired. The congenital form is thought to be due to an abnormality in the trochlea. The acquired form can be caused by inflammation of the tendon of the superior oblique muscle, trauma, surgery, or other conditions that can cause inflammation in the eye area.

Treatment

Treatment for Brown Syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms and the underlying cause. In many cases, no treatment is necessary, and the condition improves on its own. In other cases, treatment may include physical therapy for the eye muscles, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation, or surgery to correct the eye misalignment.

See also

• Strabismus
• Superior oblique muscle
• Trochlea of superior oblique
• Diplopia

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Brown syndrome

Brown syndrome is a rare disease.

Brown syndrome Resources
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