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Congenital ocular motor apraxia without head thrusts.
Journal of Clinical Neuro-Ophthalmology
|March 1, 1987
Summary
Congenital ocular motor apraxia (COMA) can mimic cortical blindness due to impaired saccadic eye movements. Diagnosis is possible even without characteristic head thrusts, highlighting the need for broader consideration in suspected visual impairment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Congenital ocular motor apraxia (COMA) is a rare neurological disorder affecting eye movement control.
- It can initially present as apparent cortical blindness due to difficulties with saccadic eye movements.
Observation:
- Patients with COMA struggle to fixate on horizontally moving targets.
- A characteristic compensatory head thrust is often observed in affected children.
- Two cases are presented where head thrusts were absent due to poor head control.
Findings:
- Despite the absence of typical head thrusts, the diagnosis of COMA was confirmed through other clinical features.
- The study underscores that COMA should be considered in children initially diagnosed with cortical blindness.
Implications:
- Broadens the diagnostic criteria for congenital ocular motor apraxia.
- Highlights the importance of thorough neuro-ophthalmological evaluation in infants with apparent visual deficits.
- Emphasizes considering COMA in the differential diagnosis of pediatric cortical blindness.