Supranuclear ophthalmoplegia

Supranuclear ophthalmoplegia is a condition that affects the movement of the eyes.

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.

People who have this problem often have progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). This is a disorder that affects the way the brain controls movement, including eye movement.

Other disorders that have been associated with this condition include:

• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)

  Encephalitis

  Encephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections.

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• Disease that causes areas deep in the brain, just above the spinal cord, to shrink (olivopontocerebellar atrophy)

  Olivopontocerebellar atrophy

  Multiple system atrophy - cerebellar subtype (MSA-C) is a rare disease that causes areas deep in the brain, just above the spinal cord, to shrink (at...

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• Disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement (for example, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain, brain stem and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movemen...

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• Condition that also causes malabsorption disorder of the small intestine as well as other symptoms (Whipple disease)

  Whipple disease

  Whipple disease is a rare condition that mainly affects the small intestine. This prevents the small intestine from allowing nutrients to pass into ...

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Symptoms

People with supranuclear ophthalmoplegia are unable to move their eyes at will in all directions, especially looking upward.

Depending on what condition may be causing the supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, associated symptoms may include:

• Mild dementia

  Dementia

  Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...

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• Stiff and uncoordinated movements like those of Parkinson disease

  Parkinson disease

  Parkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...

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• Symptoms of disorders associated with supranuclear ophthalmoplegia

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about the symptoms, focusing on the eyes and nervous system.

Tests will be done to check for diseases linked with supranuclear ophthalmoplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might show shrinking of the brainstem.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause and symptoms of the supranuclear ophthalmoplegia.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Outlook depends on the cause of the supranuclear ophthalmoplegia.

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