A Comprehensive Guide To Duane Syndrome

Diagnosing Duane Syndrome

When Duane syndrome is suspected, an eye specialist, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist, will need to obtain a complete family and personal medical history and conduct a full medical and vision exam. The vision exam will include the typical visual acuity tests. Aside from this, the exam will include measuring the misalignment in the eyes, testing the range of movement in both eyes, determining if the patient is using an abnormal head position or turn measuring eyeball retraction and eye-opening size, as well as determining if upshoots or downshoots are also present. In some instances, the eye specialist will recommend the patient to visit their primary doctor or other specialists to rule out disorders connected to Duane syndrome. These exams will typically examine the spine, neck, hands, roof of the mouth, and the patient’s hearing.

Continue reading to learn about the surgical treatment options available to patients with Duane syndrome.

Treatment Through Surgery

Unfortunately, surgery cannot completely fix a patient’s Duane syndrome as it cannot fix the miswired nerves. It can, however, adjust the eye muscles to compensate for the compromised nerves and reduce misalignment, including helping reduce upshoot and downshoot. Surgery can also improve the head turn or abnormal head position (success rate is estimated to be seventy-nine percent or more), and reduce the severity of eyeballs pulling back into the socket when the patient looks in towards their nose. Two examples of surgeries performed are horizontal muscle recession procedures and vertical rectus muscle transposition procedures. The surgery or surgeries chosen depend on the patient and their specific case.

Continue reading to learn about how patients can manage this disorder with lifestyle adjustments.