opsoclonus

Last reviewed 01/2018

Opsoclonus is a form of abnormal eye movement which occurs in all directions.

The eye movements in opsoclonus show fast movements in both phases unlike nystagmus which consists of a slow and fast phase.

Opsoclonus is closely related to ocular flutter, where saccades are multidirectional

  • the two conditions have the same localizing value and differential diagnosis
    • most common aetiologies are paraneoplastic syndrome, brainstem encephalitis, metabolic-toxic disturbance, and idiopathic.(1)

Reference:

  • Leigh RJ, Zee DS. The Neurology of Eye Movements. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2006. Diagnosis of nystagmus and saccadic intrusion; pp. 475-558