Alternative Names
Third cranial nerve palsy; Oculomotor palsy; Pupil-involving third cranial nerve palsy
Definition of Cranial mononeuropathy III – compression type
Cranial mononeuropathy III — compression type — is a problem with the function of the third cranial nerve that causes double vision and eyelid drooping.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Cranial mononeuropathy III – compression type is a , which means that only one nerve is affected. It affects the third cranial (oculomotor) nerve, one of the cranial nerves that controls eye movement. Local tumors or swelling can press on and damage the nerve.
Signs and tests
An eye examination may show:
Treatment
Some people get better without treatment. Treating the cause (if it can be found) may relieve the symptoms in many cases.
Expectations (prognosis)
Some cranial nerve dysfunctions will respond to treatment. A few cases result in some permanent loss of function.
Review
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 6/15/2010
