Alternative Names
Abducens palsy; Lateral rectus palsy; Vith nerve palsy; Cranial nerve VI palsy
Definition of Cranial mononeuropathy VI
Cranial mononeuropathy VI is a nerve disorder. It prevents some of the muscles that control eye movements from working well. As a result, people may see two of the same image (double vision).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Cranial mononeuropathy VI is damage to the sixth cranial (skull) nerve. This nerve, also called the abducens nerve, helps control eye movement to the left or right.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
Signs and tests
Tests typically show that one eye has trouble looking to the side, while the other eye moves normally. An examination shows the eyes do not line up — either at rest, or when looking in the direction of the weak eye.
Treatment
If your health care provider diagnoses swelling or inflammation of, or around the nerve, medications called corticosteroids will be used.
Expectations (prognosis)
Treating the cause may improve the condition. Most people in whom no cause is found recover completely.
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
