Ocular flutter induced only by optokinetic stimulation

J Clin Neurosci. 2006 May;13(4):479-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2005.05.023.

Abstract

Ocular flutter (OF) refers to occasional bursts of involuntary horizontal oscillation around the point of fixation, characterised by rapid horizontal repetitive oscillation without intersaccadic interval in electro-ocular recording. In spite of numerous reports of OF, there has been no previous report describing OF developed by simply looking at moving objects. We report a patient with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA), with OF induced only by optokinetic stimulation (OKS). A 65-year-old man, with OPCA complained of dizziness and oscillopsia occurring only with a specific type of eye movement. The electro-oculographic recording showed a decreased gain of pursuit, catch-up saccade, and decreased velocity of saccade, and OF was induced only by OKS of more than 40 degrees /second. In OPCA, partial loss of omnipause neurons and/or abnormal firing of burst neurons, especially those involved in optokinetic movement, could be the cause of OF occurring only with OKS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atrophy
  • Electrooculography / methods
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / etiology*
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / pathology
  • Photic Stimulation / adverse effects*
  • Pons / pathology