MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Supranuclear ophthalmoplegia

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Supranuclear ophthalmoplegia

Contents of this page:
Definition Causes	References

Definition

Supranuclear ophthalmoplegia is the inability to voluntarily move the eyes in all directions.

Causes

This disorder occurs because the brain is sending and receiving faulty information through the nerves that control eye movement. The nerves themselves are healthy.

Patients who have this problem may have progressive supranuclear palsy, a disorder that affects the way the brain controls movement called. In other cases, a brain injury (such as stroke) can result in various types of supranuclear ophthalmoplegia.

References

Moore DP, Jefferson JW. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2004:331.

Update Date: 5/16/2006

Updated by: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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