Oculomotor cranial neuropathies: Diagnosis and management

Abstract

Ocular nerve palsies are among the most common cranial neuropathies in neurological practice. Nerves can get affected anywhere along their path from the brainstem to the orbit. There can be isolated involvement of multiple cranial nerves together. The etiologies differ according to the type of presentation. The steps toward the diagnosis need to be strategically planned and must be based on clinical localization. It is crucial to make proper localization to plan further investigations and thus treatment of the etiology. This review covers the approach toward the diagnosis, etiologies involved, and management of ocular cranial neuropathies.

Keywords

• abducens palsy
• diplopia
• ocular nerve palsy
• oculomotor palsy
• trochlear palsy