OCULAR AND SYSTEMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DUANE SYNDROME

The clinical features of 63 patients with Duane syndrome are described in this report. All data in the study were gathered retrospectively e xcept for measurements of vertical palpebral fissure and axial eye len gth, which were investigated prospectively. The following new aspects of the syndrome are emphasized: 1) In most cases with heterotropia, th e angle of deviation was not large (less-than-or-equal-to 25 prism dio pters). 2) Visual acuity of 0.66 (20/30) or better was recorded in 94% of the affected eyes. 3) Smaller palpebral fissure (by 1 mm or more) of the affected eye was measured in primary position among 9 of 40 (22 %) unilateral cases. 4) The axial length of the affected eye (mean, 22 .8 +/- 0.6 mm) was not significantly different from the uninvolved eye . 5) Two cases of heterochromia iridis (3.2%) were found among the Dua ne syndrome patients. 6) A 4.8% prevalence of high-tone hearing loss w as detected, in addition to 4.8% of sensorineural deafness.