A quantitative study of abnormal eye movements in Huntington's chorea using the scleral search coil technique

Abstract

The eye movements of three patients with Huntington's chorea were recorded using the eye search coil in magnetic field technique. Horizontal pursuit was superior to vertical. The clinical impression of poor optokinetic responses was not confirmed since optokinetic system gain was good and there was evidence of optokinetic after nystagmus (OKAN) in the downward direction. Horizontal saccades were uniformly slowed and upward saccades were slower than downward. Most saccades had exponential or complex waveforms. There was evidence of lateropulsion in two cases. The pathogenesis of the abnormal ocular motility is discussed.

Key Words:

• Huntington's chorea
• eye movement recordings
• search coil technique
• saccades
• pursuit