Fast vergence eye movements are disrupted in Parkinson's disease: A video-oculography study

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2015 Jul;21(7):797-9. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.04.014. Epub 2015 Apr 23.

Abstract

Background: Blurred near vision is a common non-motor symptom in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), however detailed characterization of vergence eye movements (VEM) is lacking.

Methods: Convergence and divergence were examined in 18 patients with PD and 18 control subjects using infrared video-oculography. VEM metrics analyzed included latency, velocity and accuracy, in vertical and horizontal planes.

Results: The latency of convergence and divergence was significantly increased in PD subjects. Additionally, divergence was slow and hypometric, while other convergence metrics were similar to controls.

Conclusion: We provide evidence in favor of disrupted VEM in PD.

Keywords: Convergence; Divergence; Parkinson's disease; Vergence eye movements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Eye Movements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / epidemiology
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis*
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Video Recording / methods*