Supranuclear Disorders of Eye Movements

This article reviews the basic anatomy and pathophysiology of the supranuclear ocular motor pathways, emphasizing clinical correlations.

More advanced neuroimaging, particularly functional MRI, has yielded insight into previously unclear mechanisms of eye movement control with potential clinical implications. A better understanding of the mechanisms of eye movement control has implications for translational research, resulting in improved and early diagnosis and better treatment options.

Dysfunction of the supranuclear ocular motor pathways typically causes highly localizable deficits. With relative ease of access to sophisticated neuroimaging, it is critical to better understand structure-function relationships and precisely localize pathology within the brain. Accurately localizing a lesion in the supranuclear ocular motor pathways might prevent delay in diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and in some cases allow for early recognition of neurodegenerative diseases.