Oculomotor function in Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome: II. Smooth pursuit eye movements.

Smooth pursuit eye movements were studied in three patients with alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome, one with Wernicke's encephalopathy, and an age-matched control. Horizontal smooth pursuit eye movements were abnormal in all patients: peak eye velocity and the ability to sustain smooth eye velocity were reduced. Also, smooth pursuit gain began to decrease at relatively low target velocities (i.e., 8-10 degrees). These data demonstrate a severe disturbance in smooth pursuit function long after the clinically apparent oculomotor abnormalities have passed.