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Updated: May 19, 2026
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Assessing Binocular Central Visual Field and Binocular Eye Movements in a Dichoptic Viewing Condition
Published on: July 21, 2020
The accessory optic system: the fugitive visual control system in infantile strabismus
1Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. Brodsky.michael@mayo.edu
Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|August 16, 2012
Summary
Infantile strabismus involves unusual eye movements linked to visual-vestibular reflexes. The accessory optic system may explain these visuovestibular eye movements in humans with infantile strabismus.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Vestibular System
Background:
- Infantile strabismus is characterized by dissociated eye movements.
- These movements resemble visuovestibular reflexes seen in animals.
- Subcortical visual pathways modulate vestibular tone using binocular input.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of the accessory optic system in infantile strabismus.
- To investigate the neural basis of visuovestibular eye movements in strabismus.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on visuovestibular reflexes.
- Analysis of the accessory optic system's function.
- Comparison of animal and human visual-vestibular pathways.
Main Results:
- The accessory optic system processes binocular visual information.
- This system is well-positioned to mediate visuovestibular responses.
- It offers a potential explanation for observed eye movements in infantile strabismus.
Conclusions:
- The accessory optic system provides a plausible neural substrate for visuovestibular eye movements in infantile strabismus.
- Further research is warranted to confirm its role in human strabismus.
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