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Central nervous system
Central nervous system


Cranial mononeuropathy VI

Alternative Names:
Abducens palsy; Lateral rectus palsy

Symptoms:

Symptoms may include double vision when looking to one side (unilateral injury). In some cases, there is pain or headaches.



Signs and tests:

Testing of eye movement shows that one eye has difficulty looking to the side and the other eye moves normally. An eye examination shows the eyes do not align -- either at rest, or when looking in the direction of the weak eye.

A complete medical and neurological examination must be done to determine if other parts of the nervous system are affected. Depending on the suspected cause, a patient may undergo blood tests, a head imaging study such as an MRI or CT scan, and possibly a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).




Review Date: 4/28/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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