Conjugate eye deviation after hemispheric stroke

Abstract

The authors studied saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements in patients with conjugate eye deviation (CED) due to a hemispheric stroke. This was done by clinical examination (n = 74) during the presence of CED and, if possible, by eye movement recordings (n = 10) at fixed intervals after clinical disappearance of CED during a follow-up period of six months.During CED both saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements were equally reduced in contralateral direction. After clinical disappearance of CED disorders of saccades, contralateral more than ipsilateral, and smooth pursuit, ipsilateral more than contralateral, could stil be demonstrated for at least six months in the vast majority of patients.The eye movement disorders, both clinically and recorded, suggest a relationship with spatial neglect (in the early phase) and the structures involved in this syndrome, especially the parietal lobe.