SUBNORMAL BINOCULAR VISION IN THE WILLIAMS-SYNDROME

Purpose: Patients with Williams syndrome have been found to have a hig h prevalence of strabismus. This may be due to a primary sensory abnor mality. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of s ubnormal binocular vision in patients with Williams syndrome. Methods: Patients being followed in an interdisciplinary Williams syndrome cli nic were prospectively evaluated to determine their binocular status. Results: Eleven patients with Williams syndrome underwent an ophthalmo logic evaluation. Twenty-seven percent of patients had strabismus (3/1 1). Eight patients demonstrated no measurable strabismus. Six of these patients were found to have monofixation syndrome. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of subnormal binocular vision in Williams syndro me. This subnormal binocular vision may explain the high prevalence of strabismus in this syndrome.