Dissociated eye movements: a clinical study.

CONCLUSIONS

Dissociation of eye movements is an important sign of functional or organic lesions of the central vestibular system. Qualitative differences in the movements of each eye appear to be more serious than quantitative differences.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the significance of dissociated nystagmus in neurotological diagnosis.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Eye movements were recorded separately for each eye during the neurotological examination of patients with a suspicion of central vestibular system involvement.

RESULTS

Of 137 patients, 38 had quantitative dissociation of eye movements and 59 had qualitative differences. A total of 66/137 patients had abnormal MRI scans: 55 of these patients presented dissociated eye movements and only 39 had other signs of central vestibular involvement.