Extraocular muscle paresis

1. Extraocular Muscle Paresis

Extraocular muscle paresis refers to a condition where there is weakness or partial paralysis of the extraocular muscles, which are responsible for controlling eye movements. This condition can lead to diplopia (double vision) and difficulty in moving the eyes in certain directions.

Causes

Extraocular muscle paresis can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Cranial nerve palsy: Damage to the cranial nerves that innervate the extraocular muscles, such as the oculomotor nerve, trochlear nerve, or abducens nerve.
• Myasthenia gravis: An autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle weakness.
• Thyroid eye disease: Also known as Graves' ophthalmopathy, this condition can cause inflammation and swelling of the extraocular muscles.
• Trauma: Physical injury to the orbit or surrounding structures can impair muscle function.
• Stroke: A cerebrovascular accident can affect the brain areas controlling eye movements.

Symptoms

The symptoms of extraocular muscle paresis may include:

• Diplopia (double vision)
• Strabismus (misalignment of the eyes)
• Difficulty moving the eye in one or more directions
• Ptosis (drooping of the eyelid) if associated with oculomotor nerve involvement

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of extraocular muscle paresis typically involves:

• A thorough ophthalmologic examination
• Neuroimaging studies such as MRI or CT scan to assess for structural causes
• Electromyography (EMG) to evaluate muscle function
• Blood tests to check for autoimmune disorders like myasthenia gravis

Treatment

Treatment options depend on the underlying cause and may include:

• Corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications for inflammatory or autoimmune causes
• Prism glasses to help correct double vision
• Surgery to correct muscle alignment in cases of persistent strabismus
• Botulinum toxin injections to temporarily relieve muscle imbalance

See Also

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Strabismus

References

• American Academy of Ophthalmology - What is Strabismus?
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Myasthenia Gravis

External

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

• Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia

• Astigmatism

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