[Measurement of incomitance patterns of vertical deviation in superior oblique palsy with a synoptometer]

By using a synoptometer we tried to compare the incomitance pattern of the vertical deviation in congenital superior oblique palsy with that of the vertical deviation in acquired superior oblique palsy. The data were transformed to a three-dimensional format by a computer to classify the incomitance pattern. With this method we found a difference in the incomitance pattern between congenital and acquired superior oblique palsy. In cases of congenital superior oblique palsy the vertical deviation increased proportionately with the change of gaze from abduction to adduction, since the incomitance caused by the horizontal change of gaze was more marked than that of the vertical change of gaze. However in cases of acquired superior oblique palsy the vertical deviation increased proportionately with change of gaze from up- to downward positions, therefore the incomitance caused by vertical change of gaze was more marked than that of the horizontal change of gaze. Moreover congenital superior oblique palsy was classified into three types according to the classification of Wieser and their incomitance patterns of vertical deviation were compared with each other.