Alterations of ocular motility in cerebellar pathology. An electro-oculographic study

Abstract

Saccadic as well as smooth pursuit movements were studied by means of electro-oculograms in a group of 14 patients affected by cerebellar diseases. Ten patients had cerebellar atrophies, and four had undergone surgery for cerebellar tumors. Loss of gain of the pursuit system and metric alteration of saccades were the most striking abnormalities observed. Dysmetria was shown to be related to the amplitude of the movement and to the sector of the perimeter within which the movement occurs (movements occurring in the more eccentric sector were more disturbed). A tendency to produce saccades slower than normal was noted in patients affected by olivopontocerebellar atrophy. The clinical and pathophysiological significance of this finding is discussed with particular reference to Wadia-Swaami hereditary ataxia.