pursuit eye movements
Last reviewed 01/2018
The pursuit system is physiologically less used, but clinically the most frequently disturbed. The target should be moved slowly. Note particularly the amplitude and the smoothness.
The prototype of abnormalities of this system is the degradation of smooth tracking into a series of small saccades, traditionally called cogwheel eye movements or more precisely saccadic pursuit.
It occurs bilaterally with fatigue, inattention, decreased consciousness, diffuse brain disease, sedative or anti- convulsant drugs, or if the fixation object is moved too quickly. It occurs unilaterally with deep occipito- parietal lobe lesions.