Common Causes Of Ophthalmoplegia

Multiple Sclerosis

Patients with multiple sclerosis, a condition in which the immune system destroys the nerves' protective covering, may also present with intranuclear ophthalmoplegia. Multiple sclerosis generally affects younger individuals and causes intranuclear ophthalmoplegia in both eyes. In this condition, the nerve fibers that coordinate the horizontal movements of the eyes become damaged, leading to blurry vision since both eyes cannot focus on the same object.

This impaired horizontal eye movement is due to a lesion in the medial longitudinal fasciculus, which is what causes the eyes not to be able to gaze laterally. Many brainstem syndromes can affect the medial longitudinal fasciculus, but multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of impaired horizontal movements of the eye. In the case of an acute intranuclear ophthalmoplegia, intravenous steroids can be given to the patient.