Neuro-ophthalmology of movement disorders

Introduction: Ophthalmologic abnormalities, including visual impairment and ocular motor dysfunction, are common in patients with movement disorders. The impact of the ocular symptoms on the patients’ quality of life is often underestimated. Pathophysiology of these symptoms remains poorly understood. In this review, a concise but comprehensive summary of ophthalmologic features of the most common movement disorders and a discussion of their pathophysiology and treatment are provided. Areas covered: A systematic review was conducted of the literature on ophthalmologic signs in Parkinson’s disease (PD), atypical parkinsonism, cerebellar disorders, Huntington disease (HD), dystonia, tics, and functional (psychogenic) movement disorders. Expert commentary: Recognition of certain neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs and their association with movement disorders can assist in the diagnosis and management of patients with movement disorders. Neuroanatomy of visual and ocular motor pathways, pathological changes in the cerebral networks involved in vision and the control of eye movements can provide further insight into pathophysiology of movement disorders.