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Case Reports
. 2025 Jan 8;17(1):e77149.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.77149. eCollection 2025 Jan.

Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia: A Case Report

Rajiv V Seemongal-Dass  1 , Durell J Gracen  1 , Robin R Seemongal-Dass  1 , Bernard Chang  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia: A Case Report

Rajiv V Seemongal-Dass et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) is a rare mitochondrial disorder characterized by bilateral, slowly progressive ptosis and paralysis of the extraocular muscles. We present the case of a 61-year-old female with a 36-year history of bilateral ptosis and limited eye movements without diplopia. No family history of CPEO or other mitochondrial disorders was reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of CPEO in Trinidad and Tobago.

Keywords: chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia; cpeo; mitochondrial disease; ophthalmoplegia; ptosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Left optical coherence tomography of the macula showing myopic changes of the fundus with no pigmentary retinopathy.
A: left fundus image B: left retinal thickness map (red-free) C: left retinal layers - plane T (top surface) and plane S (bottom surface) D: left retinal thickness map with ETDRS grid overlay Abbreviations: ETDRS, early treatment diabetic retinopathy study
Figure 2
Figure 2. Right OCT of the macula showing myopic changes of the fundus with no pigmentary retinopathy
A: right fundus image B: right retinal thickness map (red-free) C: right retinal layers - plane T (top surface) and plane S (bottom surface) D: Right retinal thickness map with ETDRS grid overlay Abbreviations: OCT, optical coherence tomography; ETDRS, early treatment diabetic retinopathy study
Figure 3
Figure 3. Maximal Eyelid Opening and Closing Prior to Ptosis Repair. Also seen are ophthalmoplegia, loss of upper eyelid crease and exotropia.
A: Eyelid fully closed B: Eyelid fully opened
Figure 4
Figure 4. Surgical markings for brow suspension procedure
Figure 5
Figure 5. Two months post-ptosis repair surgery, demonstrating significant improvement in ptosis and the reformation of the upper eyelid crease bilaterally (indicated by red arrows)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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