A Rare Cause of Isolated Sixth Nerve Palsy in Childhood: Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

A 11-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic complaining of diplopia and strabismus in the right eye. Ophthalmological examination revealed limitation of abduction in the right eye. The best-corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes. There were no abnormal findings on fundus and anterior chamber examination. After radiological and cerebrospinal fluid investigations, she has received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). High-dose (1000 mg daily) intravenous methylprednisolone was given for 3 days, and then oral methylprednisolone therapy 2 mg/kg per day was started. After two months from admission to hospital, the ophthalmological examination revealed complete recovery in diplopia and gaze palsy. MS should be kept in mind as a rare etiology in children with isolated sixth nerve palsy and radiological investigations should be performed as soon as possible. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2013; 43: 205-7)

Keywords

• Childhood
• sixth nerve palsy
• acute diplopia
• multiple sclerosis