Brief Report

Vertical optokinetic nystagmus in Parkinson's disease†

  1. Christopher M. Knapp MD1,
  2. Irene Gottlob MD1,
  3. Rebecca J. McLean MD1,
  4. Yusuf A. Rajabally MD2,
  5. Richard J. Abbott MD2,
  6. Suzanne Rafelt BSc3,
  7. Frank A. Proudlock PhD1,*

Article first published online: 9 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/mds.22634

Issue

Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders

Volume 24, Issue 10, pages 1533–1538, 30 July 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Knapp, C. M., Gottlob, I., McLean, R. J., Rajabally, Y. A., Abbott, R. J., Rafelt, S. and Proudlock, F. A. (2009), Vertical optokinetic nystagmus in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 24: 1533–1538. doi: 10.1002/mds.22634

Author Information

  1. 1

    Ophthalmology Group, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, United Kingdom

  2. 2

    Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom

  3. 3

    Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Wing, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom

*Ophthalmology Group, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, PO Box 65, Leicester LE2 7LX, United Kingdom

  1. †

    Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 JUL 2009
  2. Article first published online: 9 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 MAR 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 26 MAR 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 15 APR 2008

Funded by

  • Ulverscroft Foundation

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Keywords:

  • optokinetic nystagmus;
  • Parkinson's disease;
  • asymmetry;
  • eye movements;
  • dopamine

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with a number of oculomotor deficits; however, little is known about changes in vertical optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) associated with PD. We recorded eye movements in 14 PD patients and 14 age-matched controls in response to large field OKN stimulation using stimulus velocities of 20°/second and 40°/second. We compared asymmetry of horizontal and vertical responses in the two groups. We found vertical OKN to be strongly asymmetric in PD with reduced gains for downward-moving stimuli. This asymmetry was significantly greater than that recorded in control volunteers. We postulate that this could result from an abnormal pursuit/early OKN system in PD leading to greater influence of the delayed OKN system. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society

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