REFLEX HORIZONTAL SACCADES IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - A CLINICALLY ROBUST QUANTITATIVE APPROACH

The authors used infrared oculography to measure reflex horizontal sac cades in 50 normal subjects and 65 patients with multiple sclerosis. M S patients were divided into three groups on the basis of a current or past history of ocularmotor disorder or neither. Saccadic duration an d peak velocity characteristics were modelled using simple mathematica l functions. Data were segregated by eye and direction and anatomical interpretations made on the basis of abnormalities found. The authors were able to show that duration more so than velocity data, using smal l angles, was sensitive to clinical and presumed 'subclinical' abnorma lities. Saccadic latency did not correlate with visual pathway problem s, and dysmetria frequently occurred in patients with a previous histo ry of ocular palsy. In contrast to previous studies the authors have d emonstrated that careful measurement of small saccades provides clinic ally robust and useful information, and suggest that this approach cou ld be extended to aid in the evaluation of other disorders where struc tures involved in eye movement control might be affected.