Visuoocular reflexes in presbyvertigo

Using electronystagmography, we tested 100 patients (ages 65-80 years) manifesting the clinical signs of presbyvertigo, for the purpose of demonstrating their visuoocular reflexes. We administered not only simple optokinetic and eye-tracking stimuli but caloric modification of each one as well (with contrary directed optokinetic trace movement). The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 40 healthy subjects between the ages of 20 and 25 years. In the older group, we observed a statistically significant increased frequency of asymmetry of optokinetic nystagmus and pathological patterns revealed by the eye-tracking test and caloric modification of both the optokinetic and eye-tracking tests. We discuss the hypothetical predominant localization of age-dependent changes, with emphasis on the disturbances of visual-vestibular integration, on the basis of data obtained from anamnesis and other electronystagmographic findings.