Acquired pendular nystagmus in toluene addiction

We studied the ocular motor abnormalities in 4 patients chronically addicted to sniffing glue containing toluene. They showed acquired pendular nystagmus with horizontal and vertical components. One patient also showed saccadic oscillations. The pendular nystagmus may be a manifestation of a disturbance in brainstem-cerebellar connections secondary to the toxic effect of toluene on white matter.