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Complex regional pain syndrome type I: associated visual sensorimotor case findings
Neera Kapoor1, Kenneth J Ciuffreda, Barry Tannen
1Department of Clinical Sciences, State College of Optometry, State University of New York, New York 10036, USA. nkapoor@sunyopt.edu
The Clinical Journal of Pain
|March 8, 2002
Summary
Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) can cause debilitating visual sensorimotor deficits, including issues with eye movements and focusing. Near visual tasks exacerbated these symptoms, suggesting a link to parasympathetic nervous system activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I), previously known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is a poorly understood chronic pain condition.
- Visual sensorimotor functions are critical for daily activities and may be affected in neurological disorders.
Observation:
- A case study of a 19-year-old female with CRPS I revealed significant visual sensorimotor impairments.
- Near visual stimulation (accommodation, vergence, reading eye movements) worsened these deficits.
Findings:
- The patient exhibited accommodative infacility, accommodative insufficiency, convergence insufficiency, and deficits in saccades and pursuits.
- Symptoms of dizziness, nausea, eye ache, and fatigue followed visual tasks, persisting for 30-45 minutes.
Implications:
- These findings suggest potential parasympathetic nervous system involvement in CRPS I-related visual dysfunction.
- Further research on a larger scale is needed to understand the neurological underpinnings of these sensorimotor deficits in CRPS I patients.