Neuro-ophthalmological manifestations of diabetes mellitus during COVID-19-related lockdown in India

Purpose:The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a huge impact on the health care system. Diversion of health care workforce toward management of a high number of COVID-19 cases and lockdown restrictions have affected the follow-up of patients. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of this situation on the control of diabetes, eventually resulting in related neuro-ophthalmological complications.Methods:This retrospective case series included diabetic patients visiting the neuro-ophthalmology clinic at a tertiary care eye center in India from 25 March 2020 to 25 September 2020 during the lockdown. The incidence of diabetes-related neuro-ophthalmological complications, including third, fourth, sixth nerve palsies and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) was evaluated and compared with that of the same period during 2019.Results:Overall disease incidence rate was significantly higher in the year 2020 (60.2%) compared to the previous year of 2019 (29.8%). The proportion of third nerve palsy (4.8% vs 16.3%, P < 0.001) and NAION (0.3% vs 14.3%, P < 0.001) had increased. Even though the percentage of sixth nerve palsy was 25% in 2020, this was not significantly different from 2019. There was a reduction in the percentage of fourth nerve palsy cases from the year 2019 to 2020.Conclusion:There was a significant increase in diabetes-related neuro-ophthalmic complications during the COVID-19 lockdown. This can possibly be attributed to worsening of glycemic control in diabetic patients.     

Cause and prognosis of neurologically isolated third, fourth, or sixth cranial nerve dysfunction in cases of oculomotor palsy

Purpose To determine the cause and prognosis of neurologically isolated third, fourth, or sixth cranial nerve dysfunction in cases of oculomotor palsy, and to determine the best imaging methods to make a correct diagnosis. Methods The medical records of 221 consecutive patients with oculomotor palsy caused by neurologically isolated cranial nerve dysfunction were reviewed. There were 63 cases of third, 41 of fourth, and 117 of sixth cranial nerve dysfunction. The patients were examined at the Neuro-ophthalmology Clinic of Kyoto University Hospital between 1993 and 2001. Results Vascular disorders accounted for 34.9% of the third nerve dysfunction, and 90% of these recovered completely in 6 months. Ninety percent of the patients with an isolated third nerve dysfunction that was caused by an aneurysm also had anisocoria, and 68% of the patients with a third nerve dysfunction caused by a vascular disorder had anisocoria. In all of the vascular cases with anisocoria, the difference in the pupillary diameter was <1.0 mm. The presence of ptosis did not play an important role in making a diagnosis of third nerve dysfunction. Ninety percent of the patients with fourth nerve dysfunction and 60% of the patients with sixth nerve dysfunction recovered within 9 months. Conclusions The age of the patient, signs of an improvement, and associated alterations are important diagnostic markers to determine the best type of imaging methods for evaluating neurologically isolated third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve dysfunction.     

Isolated Pupil-Involving Third Nerve Palsy as the First Presentation of Sarcoidosis

Abstract

Neurosarcoidosis is seen in 5–15% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. The most common cranial nerve presentations are optic neuropathy and facial nerve palsy. The authors present a case of sarcoidosis presenting with a pupil-involving third nerve palsy. The patient responded to corticosteroid therapy with resolution of investigations her cranial nerve palsy but progressed to develop cerebellar signs. This is the first documented case of a pupil-involving third nerve palsy occurring as the first presentation of neurosarcoidosis. Although typically a pupil-involving third nerve palsy necessitates urgent neuroimaging to rule out a posterior communicating artery aneurysm, it is important to recognise inflammatory causes in the differential diagnosis.     

Prevalence of ocular motor cranial nerve palsy and associations following stroke

Aim

Occurrence of ocular motor cranial nerve palsies (OMCNP), following stroke, has not been reported in relation to the type of OMCNP seen and in relation to brain area affected by stroke. The aim of this study was to identify all patients referred with suspected visual impairment to establish the presence and type of OMCNP.

Methods

Prospective, observation study with standardised referral and assessment forms across 20 sites. Visual assessment included visual acuity measurement, visual field assessment, ocular alignment, and movement and visual inattention assessment. Multicentre ethics approval and informed patient consent was obtained.

Results

In total, 915 patients were recruited with mean age of 69.18 years (SD 14.19). Altogether, 498 patients (54%) were diagnosed with ocular motility abnormalities. Of these, 89 patients (18%) had OMCNP. Unilateral third nerve palsy was present in 23 patients (26%), fourth nerve palsy in 14 patients (16%), and sixth nerve palsy in 52 patients (58%). Out of these, 44 patients had isolated OMCNP and 45 had OMCNP combined with other ocular motility abnormalities. Location of stroke was reported mainly in cerebellum, brain stem, thalamus, and internal and external capsules. Treatment was provided for each case including prisms, occlusion, typoscope, scanning exercises, and refraction.

Conclusions

OMCNP account for 18% of eye movement abnormalities in this stroke sub-population. Sixth CNP was most common, followed by third and fourth CNP. Half were isolated and half combined with other eye movement abnormality. Most were treated with prisms or occlusion. The reported brain area affected by stroke was typically the cerebellum, brain stem, and diencephalic structures.     

Neurological Imaging in Acquired Cranial Nerve Palsy: Ophthalmologists vs. Neurologists

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Cranial nerve palsies often require neurological imaging by MRI. Guidelines on whether or not to utilize MRI have been absent or lack clarity. In daily practice, both neurologists and ophthalmologists treat patients with cranial nerve palsy and determine whether neuro-imaging is required. There appear to be differences in policy with respect to neuro-imaging. The question, which will be answered in this study, is the following: to what extent do differences in policy exist between ophthalmologists and neurologists regarding imaging by MRI of patients with acquired ocular cranial nerve palsy?

Method: PubMed database was searched for literature on acquired cranial nerve palsy and MRI scanning performed by ophthalmologists and neurologists. Case series published between 2000 and 2015 were included. The first author screened the literature on eligibility, profession of the authors, and conducted data abstraction.

Result: Ten case series were found eligible for analysis. A total of 889 cranial nerve palsies were described, 770 by ophthalmologists and 119 by neurologists. The age range of patients in all case series was 2 to 96 years of age. The oculomotor nerve was investigated in 162 patients, the trochlear nerve in 131 patients, and the abducens nerve in 486 patients. All neurologists (n=3) and 2 out of 7 investigated ophthalmologists recommended performing MRI scanning in every patient who presented with an ocular cranial nerve palsy, while 5 ophthalmologists (5/7) opted to triage patients for risk factors associated with cranial nerve palsies prior to ordering MRI imaging. When different groups of patients were viewed separately, it became apparent that almost all specialists agreed that every patient with a third nerve palsy and patients under 50 years of age should undergo MRI scanning. In patients with fourth nerve palsy, MRI scanning was not indicated.

Conclusion: The neurologists in this study were more likely to perform MRI scanning in every patient presenting with ocular cranial nerve palsy. Ophthalmologists were more likely to determine risk factors associated with cranial nerve palsy, which they took into account when deciding whether or not to perform neurological imaging in patients aged more than 50 years or presenting with abducens nerve palsy.     

Sixth nerve palsies as a manifestation of clival chordomas in adults and children

Objective: To review the presenting signs and symptoms of patients with clival chordomas. Methods: A retrospective study of 18 patients with pathologically proven clival chordomas evaluated and treated at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences from 1991 to 1998. Two of the 18 patients had careful neuro-ophthalmologic examination. Results: The most common symptoms at presentation included diplopia (66%) and headache (50%), while the most common neuro-ophthalmic sign was a sixth cranial nerve palsy (44%). At least one patient had resolution of his symptoms after surgery. Conclusions: Clival chordomas most commonly present with diplopia, usually from a sixth cranial nerve palsy.     

Relapsing-Remitting Sixth Nerve Palsy in Association with Ollier’s Disease

Abstract

Relapsing-remitting sixth nerve palsy is usually due to ophthalmoplegic migraine (recurrent cranial nerve palsy) in younger patients and microvascular disease in older patients. There have been isolated reports, however, of it occurring in the presence of a skull base tumour. We report a 20-year-old woman with Ollier’s disease who presented with a relapsing-remitting sixth nerve palsy. Neuro-imaging revealed a skull base enchondroma.     

Sixth Nerve Palsy in Paediatric Intracranial Hypertension

The purpose of this study was to report the incidence and describe the characteristics of sixth cranial nerve (CN VI) palsy in paediatric patients with intracranial hypertension (IH). A retrospective chart review of central Ohio children diagnosed with IH over the 3-year period from 2010 to 2013 was conducted. IH without identifiable cause was defined as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), whereas IH with identifiable pathologic aetiology was deemed secondary intracranial hypertension (SIH). A subset of patients with CN VI palsy was identified. Data collected included patient age, gender, past medical history, aetiology of SIH, ophthalmic examination, lumbar puncture results, neuroimaging results, and response to treatment. Seventy-eight children with intracranial hypertension were included in the study. Nine (11.5%) children (four males, five females; median age 14, range: 3–18) were found to have a unilateral (n = 2) or bilateral (n = 7) CN VI palsy. Five children had IIH; the remaining four had SIH from cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (n = 2) and infection (n = 2). The mean lumbar puncture opening pressure for the nine patients with CN VI palsy was 40 cm H₂O (range: 21–65 cm H₂O). Papilloedema was present in 8/9 (89%) patients. One patient required a lumboperitoneal shunt, and two others required optic nerve sheath fenestrations in addition to medical management. All cases of CN VI palsy resolved with treatment. In our primary service area, the incidence of CN VI palsy is approximately 12% among paediatric IH patients. The majority of cases with CN VI palsy presented with papilloedema and all cases resolved with treatment of intracranial hypertension.     

The diagnostic yield of neuroimaging in sixth nerve palsy - Sankara Nethralaya Abducens Palsy Study (SNAPS): Report 1

Aims:The aim was to assess the etiology of sixth nerve palsy and on the basis of our data, to formulate a diagnostic algorithm for the management in sixth nerve palsy.Design:Retrospective chart review.Results:Of the 104 neurologically isolated cases, 9 cases were attributable to trauma, and 95 (86.36%) cases were classified as nontraumatic, neurologically isolated cases. Of the 95 nontraumatic, isolated cases of sixth nerve palsy, 52 cases were associated with vasculopathic risk factors, namely diabetes and hypertension and were classified as vasculopathic sixth nerve palsy (54.7%), and those with a history of sixth nerve palsy from birth (6 cases) were classified as congenital sixth nerve palsy (6.3%). Of the rest, neuroimaging alone yielded a cause in 18 of the 37 cases (48.64%). Of the other 19 cases where neuroimaging did not yield a cause, 6 cases were attributed to preceding history of infection (3 upper respiratory tract infection and 3 viral illnesses), 2 cases of sixth nerve palsy were found to be a false localizing sign in idiopathic intracranial hypertension and in 11 cases, the cause was undetermined. In these idiopathic cases of isolated sixth nerve palsy, neuroimaging yielded no positive findings.Conclusions:In the absence of risk factors, a suggestive history, or positive laboratory and clinical findings, neuroimaging can serve as a useful diagnostic tool in identifying the exact cause of sixth nerve palsy. Furthermore, we recommend an algorithm to assess the need for neuroimaging in sixth nerve palsy.     

Clinical features and natural history of acquired third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy

PURPOSE: Clinical features of acquired third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy showed variation among previous studies. Evaluation of natural course with objective criteria will establish accurate recovery rates and important factors for recovery. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed on 206 patients who visited a neuro-ophthalmic department with acquired third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsy. Aetiology and results of ocular exam on each visit were reviewed, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors affecting recovery. RESULTS: The sixth cranial nerve was affected most frequently (n=108, 52.4%) and vascular disease (n=64, 31.1%) was the most common aetiology. Recovery was evaluated with change of deviation angle for 108 patients, who were first examined within a month of onset and followed up for at least 6 months. Ninety-two (85.2%) patients showed overall (at least partial) recovery and 73 (67.6%) showed complete recovery. In univariate analysis, initial deviation angle was found to be only significant factor associated with complete recovery (P=0.007) and most patients who experienced successful management of treatable underlying disease showed recovery. CONCLUSIONS: With objective criteria based on deviation angle, overall recovery rate from the third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsy was 85.2%. Patients who had smaller initial eyeball deviation or successful management of treatable underlying disease had a high chance of recovery.     

Isolated Pupil-Involving Third Nerve Palsy as the First Presentation of Sarcoidosis

Neurosarcoidosis is seen in 5–15% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. The most common cranial nerve presentations are optic neuropathy and facial nerve palsy. The authors present a case of sarcoidosis presenting with a pupil-involving third nerve palsy. The patient responded to corticosteroid therapy with resolution of investigations her cranial nerve palsy but progressed to develop cerebellar signs. This is the first documented case of a pupil-involving third nerve palsy occurring as the first presentation of neurosarcoidosis. Although typically a pupil-involving third nerve palsy necessitates urgent neuroimaging to rule out a posterior communicating artery aneurysm, it is important to recognise inflammatory causes in the differential diagnosis.     

Ocular motor nerve palsy: a clinical and etiological study

PURPOSE: To clinically describe cases of ocular motor nerve palsy and to determine the possible causes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients with ocular motor nerve palsies were investigated. All underwent complete ophthalmological, as well as neurological, otorhinolaryngological and general examination. Computerised tomography (CT)-scan of the brain and complementary laboratory tests were obtained from each participant. RESULTS: Paralysis of the sixth (38.4%) and the third (35.3%) cranial nerve were the most common. The Lees screen test was found to be very sensitive, confirming the diagnosis of ocular motor nerve palsy, even in cases with minimal manifestations. Complete ptosis and full mydriasis were mostly seen in isolated cases of the third cranial nerve palsy. The majority of eyes (63.2%) with third cranial nerve palsy had pupil sparing. Overall, an etiological diagnosis was made in 93.5% of cases. The common causes were vascular conditions (25.8%), otorhinolaryngologic diseases (19.7%) and trauma (12.9%). CT scan failed to reveal any abnormality in 54.8% of cases. CONCLUSION: Patients with ocular motor nerve palsy should be carefully examined in close collaboration with other specialists, especially where sophisticated, complementary investigations are impossible.     

Pediatric third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsies: a population-based study

PURPOSE: To determine the population-based incidence and cause of cranial nerve palsies affecting ocular motility in children in the circumscribed population of Olmsted County, Minnesota. METHODS: The Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records linkage system captures virtually all medical care provided to Olmsted County residents. By means of this database, all cases of third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy were identified among county residents less than 18 years of age from 1978 through 1992. Medical records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis, determine the cause, and document county residency. Incidence rates were adjusted to the age and sex distribution of the 1990 white population in the United States. RESULTS: Over this 15-year period, 36 incidence cases of cranial nerve palsy were identified in 35 children in this defined population. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted annual incidence of third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsies combined was 7.6 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval, 5.1 to 10.1). The most commonly affected nerve was the fourth (36%), followed by the sixth (33%), the third (22%), and multiple nerve palsies (9%). The most common cause was congenital for third and fourth nerve palsy, undetermined for sixth, and trauma for multiple nerve palsies. Although three cases were associated with neoplasia, a cranial nerve palsy was not present at the time of diagnosis in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike many institutionally based referral series, our population-based study provides data on the incidence and cause of third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsies in a geographically defined population. In contrast to previous institutionally based series, nearly half the cases were congenital in origin, and in no case did intracranial neoplasia present as an isolated nerve palsy.     

Vertical Tropia Following Horizontal Transposition Surgery

Aim:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vertical tropia following horizontal transposition of both vertical rectus muscles (HToVR) in patients with Duane syndrome or sixth nerve palsy.Methods:This retrospective study included patients with Duane syndrome or sixth nerve palsy who had undergone HToVR muscles. Data collected included: age, gender, diagnosis, laterality, pre-operative angle of deviation, type of surgery and post-operative angle of deviation at one week, three months and six months. Information on the use of botulinum toxin (BT) ipsilateral medial rectus (MR), additional surgery was performed, and the presence of preoperative and postoperative binocular function and any vertical deviation was collected.Results:There were 11 patients, eight patients with a diagnosis of Duane syndrome and three patients with a diagnosis of sixth nerve palsy. The mean age of the patients was 13 ± 14.79 years (range 5–55 years), four were female. The prevalence of post-operative vertical tropia was 54%. The mean vertical deviation for distance, was 7.6^ ± 2.94 (SD) (range 3^–9^). Stereoacuity was present preoperatively in 5 patients and 8 postoperatively. No patient developed diplopia or received further surgery for the vertical tropia. Of the six patients who had intraoperative BT at the time of the HToVR, four developed a vertical deviation.Conclusion:The prevalence of vertical deviation following HToVR muscles was 54% in our series. None of the patients with an induced postoperative vertical deviation reported diplopia or required further surgery for it.     

Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsy in a Patient with Colloid Cyst of the Fourth Ventricle

In this report, a 17-year-old case with sixth cranial nerve palsy caused by a colloid cyst, localized on the base of the fourth ventricle, is presented. The cyst was excised totally by neuro-surgeons. A remarkable recovery of the sixth cranial nerve palsy was detected after the surgical excision with resolution of diplopia and strabismus.     

头颅外伤患者的眼运动神经麻痹(英文)

目的:了解头颅外伤患者眼运动神经麻痹的情况。方法:收集2006-03/2006-09 Shahid Rahnemon医院神经外科收治的300名头颅外伤患者的资料,包括眼科检查和调查问答,采用SPSS软件卡方和F检验进行数据分析。结果:300例患者中242例为男性(81. 1% ), 58例为女性(18.9% ),年龄为1~87(平均46)岁。意外跌伤是头部外伤最常见的原因,共247例患者(82. 3% )因此致伤;大多数患者的GCS得分为13~15(82.3% )。最多见的颅脑外伤为硬膜下腔、蛛网膜下腔出血。滑车神经或外展神经麻痹(28.6% )、其他眼运动神经麻痹或同时两处眼运动神经麻痹(常见第3颅神经和第4颅神经麻痹,14.3% )是最常出现的情况。结论:虽然头颅外伤同时出现颅神经麻痹的几率较小,但是在急诊时应根据情况进行神经眼科检查。     

Predictors of Good Motor and Sensory Outcomes Following Strabismus Surgery for Patients with Third Nerve Palsies

Strabismus from third nerve palsy (3NP) is difficult to treat. Our goal was to explore factors associated with successful surgical outcomes in 3NP. Institutional records of all adult patients (>18 years) from 1988 to 2012 with 3NP who underwent strabismus surgery or botulinum toxin injections were retrospectively reviewed. Success was defined as absence of diplopia, vertical deviation ≤2 prism dioptres (PD), and horizontal deviation ≤10 PD. Fifty-six patients from four surgeons were included. Thirty (54%) were female; mean age was 48 (range: 20–80). Forty-four (79%) had unilateral 3NP; 9 (16%) had other ocular motor nerve palsies. 3NP were complete in 24 (43%). Underlying aetiology was idiopathic/microvascular in 5 (9%), traumatic in 13 (23%), neoplastic in 12 (21%), aneurysmal in 10 (18%), and other central nervous system related in 16 (29%). Trauma was associated more frequently with aberrant regeneration than other aetiologies: 9/13 (69%) versus 4/43 (9%) (p < 0.01). Ten patients (18%) had >1 surgery. Surgical success was achieved in 28/56 (50%). Success rate was unaffected by aetiology, degree of palsy, pupillary involvement, presence of aberrant regeneration, or number of other cranial nerves involved. However, adjustable sutures were used in 27 patients (48%), and there was a trend toward higher success rates when adjustable versus nonadjustable sutures were used (63% versus 38%; p = 0.06). Unlike with sixth nerve palsies, the aetiology and degree of 3NP does not appear to affect the success rates or number of procedures performed. Strabismus surgeries for 3NP with adjustable sutures may be associated with better outcomes.     

Functional and Motor Outcomes of Strabismus Surgery for Chronic Isolated Adult Sixth Nerve Palsy

Abstract

Abducens nerve palsy is the most common acquired ocular motor nerve palsy in adults. Chronic cases of abducens palsy often require surgical intervention to relieve disabling diplopia. The goal of this study was to identify factors associated with surgical outcomes in isolated abducens palsy. Medical records of all adult patients from 1988 to 2012 with abducens palsies who underwent strabismus procedures were retrospectively reviewed. Motor alignment, extraocular motility, and sensory outcomes were recorded. Success was defined as absence of diplopia without prisms or face turn, vertical deviation ≤2 prism dioptres (PD), and horizontal deviation ≤10 PD. Eighty-one patients (age range: 20–86 years) met inclusion criteria. Success was achieved in 58% of patients. Final success rates for abducens palsy were 50% for neoplastic, 59% traumatic, 57% for microvascular/unknown, and 67% for other central nervous system causes (p?>?0.05). Patients with an underlying neoplastic or traumatic aetiology required more than one strabismus procedure more often than those with microvascular/idiopathic or other central nervous system causes (48% vs. 24%; p?=?0.03). For complete abducens palsies, patients who underwent Hummelsheim-type procedures had a higher success rate than those who underwent a full-tendon vertical rectus muscle transposition. (78% versus 35%; p?=?0.049). Success rates for strabismus procedures in patients with abducens palsies are similar across all aetiologies. Frequency of re-operation is higher among those patients with neoplastic or traumatic aetiologies for their abducens palsies. Hummelsheim-type procedures have a higher success rate for complete abducens palsies than full-tendon vertical rectus transpositions.