HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sharpe, J. A. Articles by Herishanu, Y. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sharpe, J. A. Articles by Herishanu, Y. O.

Visual-vestibular interaction in multiple sclerosis

Neuro-ophthalmology Unit, Division of Neurology, the Playfair Neuroscience Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, and the Departments of Medicine and Ophthalmology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Visual modulation of the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) was analyzed in 20 patients with multiple sclerosis who had no vestibular or ocular motor symptoms. Visual suppression of the VOR was impaired in 75% of patients. VOR gains in darkness were elevated in 35% of patients. Elevated VOR gain in darkness is attributed to vestibular adaptation to defective smooth pursuit. This vestibular plasticity achieved retinal image stability by matching eye velocity to head velocity when stationary targets were viewed. The high incidence of impaired visual suppression of the VOR rivals the sensitivity of other physiologic tests used to identify multiple sclerosis.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Sharpe, Neuro-ophthalmology Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8 Canada.

This study was supported by Medical Research Council of Canada Grants Nos ME 5509 and MA 5404 and by The Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation of Ontario.

Accepted for publication June 16, 1980.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E Anagnostou, D Mandellos, G Limbitaki, A Papadimitriou, and D Anastasopoulos Positional nystagmus and vertigo due to a solitary brachium conjunctivum plaque. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, June 1, 2006; 77(6): 790 - 792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-H. Young, J.-J. Chuu, S.-H. Liu, and S.-Y. Lin-Shiau Neurotoxic Mechanism of Cinnabar and Mercuric Sulfide on the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex System of Guinea Pigs Toxicol. Sci., June 1, 2002; 67(2): 256 - 263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. F. Wong, D. Tweed, and J. A. Sharpe Adaptations and Deficits in the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex after Sixth Nerve Palsy Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2002; 43(1): 99 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Meienberg, R. Muri, and P. A. Rabineau Clinical and Oculographic Examinations of Saccadic Eye Movements in the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis Arch Neurol, May 1, 1986; 43(5): 438 - 443. [Abstract] [PDF]