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WHAT IS CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

Cranial nerve VI palsy (also known as sixth nerve palsy or abducens palsy) is a weakness of the nerve that connects to the lateral rectus muscle. The lateral rectus muscle is a muscle on the outside of the eye closest to the ear. This muscle moves the eye away from the nose and outward toward the ear. When the lateral rectus muscle is weak, the eye crosses inward toward the nose (esotropia). The esotropia is larger when looking at something far away and when looking to same side as the weak muscle.

WHAT CAUSES CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

The most common causes of cranial nerve VI palsy are stroke, trauma, viral illness, brain tumor, inflammation, infection, migraine headache and elevated pressure inside the brain. A cranial nerve VI can also be present at birth; however, the most common cause in children is trauma. In older persons, a small stroke is the most common cause. Sometimes the cause of the palsy is never found, even after many tests. Cranial nerve VI is a long nerve that runs from the lower back part of the brain to the lateral rectus muscle. Depending on the cause of the cranial nerve VI palsy, other parts of the brain may be affected as well. Hearing loss, facial weakness, decreased ability to feel touch on the face, droopy eyelid and/or abnormal eye movement can also be seen with cranial nerve VI palsy, depending on the location of the problem.

DOES CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY IMPROVE WITH TIME?

It is possible for the weakness to get better or go away on its own. It takes time and the amount of improved weakness can be different for different people. Sometimes, even though the eye movement improves, the eye may still cross inward (esotropia). Most of the improvement in eye movement usually occurs within the first six months after the start of the weakness.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

Double vision (two of the same image seen side by side at the same time when only one image is present) is the most common symptom. If one eye is involved, the double vision is worse when looking in the direction of the weak eye (for example, double vision is worse when looking to the left in a left cranial nerve VI palsy). There is usually less double vision when looking at something up close, more double vision looking far away. Children do not always get double vision but are at risk to get amblyopia (weakness in vision) depending on how bad the cranial nerve VI palsy is and how long it sticks around.

HOW IS THE DOUBLE VISION FROM CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY TREATED?

Some people may turn their head towards the side of the cranial nerve VI palsy to help with double vision. Patching one eye makes the double vision go away, however this treatment must be used carefully in children so that they don’t get amblyopia from the patching. Prism glasses can help make the two images into one when looking straight ahead. Because the double vision is less or more when looking in different directions, prism glasses do not get rid of double vision when looking in all directions. The power of prism in glasses can be changed as the weakness gets better.  Eye muscle surgery (strabismus surgery) may be needed to help with double vision if the palsy does not go away completely.

CAN CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY BE FIXED?

After watching for improvement (usually six months), strabismus surgery can be done to help make the eye more straight or improve double vision if prism treatment in glasses is not enough. The goal of strabismus surgery is to correct the esotropia (eye turn inward toward the nose) and improve any head turn. Botulinum toxin injection to the eye muscle alone or with surgery is sometimes used to temporarily weaken other muscles that can get tight in a cranial nerve VI palsy.

For more information on cranial nerve VI/sixth nerve/abducens nerve palsy please visit: https://eyewiki.org/Abducens_Nerve_Palsy

                                                                                                                         Updated: 04/2023

#Conditions

Print Version

WHAT IS CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

Cranial nerve VI palsy (also known as sixth nerve palsy or abducens palsy) is a weakness of the nerve that connects to the lateral rectus muscle. The lateral rectus muscle is a muscle on the outside of the eye closest to the ear. This muscle moves the eye away from the nose and outward toward the ear. When the lateral rectus muscle is weak, the eye crosses inward toward the nose (esotropia). The esotropia is larger when looking at something far away and when looking to same side as the weak muscle.

WHAT CAUSES CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

The most common causes of cranial nerve VI palsy are stroke, trauma, viral illness, brain tumor, inflammation, infection, migraine headache and elevated pressure inside the brain. A cranial nerve VI can also be present at birth; however, the most common cause in children is trauma. In older persons, a small stroke is the most common cause. Sometimes the cause of the palsy is never found, even after many tests. Cranial nerve VI is a long nerve that runs from the lower back part of the brain to the lateral rectus muscle. Depending on the cause of the cranial nerve VI palsy, other parts of the brain may be affected as well. Hearing loss, facial weakness, decreased ability to feel touch on the face, droopy eyelid and/or abnormal eye movement can also be seen with cranial nerve VI palsy, depending on the location of the problem.

DOES CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY IMPROVE WITH TIME?

It is possible for the weakness to get better or go away on its own. It takes time and the amount of improved weakness can be different for different people. Sometimes, even though the eye movement improves, the eye may still cross inward (esotropia). Most of the improvement in eye movement usually occurs within the first six months after the start of the weakness.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

Double vision (two of the same image seen side by side at the same time when only one image is present) is the most common symptom. If one eye is involved, the double vision is worse when looking in the direction of the weak eye (for example, double vision is worse when looking to the left in a left cranial nerve VI palsy). There is usually less double vision when looking at something up close, more double vision looking far away. Children do not always get double vision but are at risk to get amblyopia (weakness in vision) depending on how bad the cranial nerve VI palsy is and how long it sticks around.

HOW IS THE DOUBLE VISION FROM CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY TREATED?

Some people may turn their head towards the side of the cranial nerve VI palsy to help with double vision. Patching one eye makes the double vision go away, however this treatment must be used carefully in children so that they don’t get amblyopia from the patching. Prism glasses can help make the two images into one when looking straight ahead. Because the double vision is less or more when looking in different directions, prism glasses do not get rid of double vision when looking in all directions. The power of prism in glasses can be changed as the weakness gets better.  Eye muscle surgery (strabismus surgery) may be needed to help with double vision if the palsy does not go away completely.

CAN CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY BE FIXED?

After watching for improvement (usually six months), strabismus surgery can be done to help make the eye more straight or improve double vision if prism treatment in glasses is not enough. The goal of strabismus surgery is to correct the esotropia (eye turn inward toward the nose) and improve any head turn. Botulinum toxin injection to the eye muscle alone or with surgery is sometimes used to temporarily weaken other muscles that can get tight in a cranial nerve VI palsy.

For more information on cranial nerve VI/sixth nerve/abducens nerve palsy please visit: https://eyewiki.org/Abducens_Nerve_Palsy

                                                                                                                         Updated:04/2023

#Conditions

Print Version

WHAT IS CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

Sixth cranial nerve palsy is weakness of the nerve that innervates the lateral rectus muscle. The lateral rectus muscle rotates the eye away from the nose and when the lateral rectus muscle is weak, the eye crosses inward toward the nose (esotropia). The esotropia is larger when looking at a distant target and looking to same side as the affected lateral rectus muscle.

WHAT CAUSES CRANIAL NERVE VI PALSY?

The most common causes of sixth cranial nerve palsy are stroke, trauma, viral illness, brain tumor, inflammation, infection, migraine headache and elevated pressure inside the brain. The condition can be present at birth; however, the most common cause in children is trauma. In older persons, a small stroke is the most common cause. Sometimes the cause of the palsy is never determined despite extensive investigation.

The sixth cranial nerve has a long course from the brainstem to the lateral rectus muscle and depending on the location of the abnormality, other neurologic structures may be involved. Hearing loss, facial weakness, decreased facial sensation, droopy eyelid and/or abnormal eye movement can be associated, depending on the location of the lesion.

DOES SIXTH CRANIAL NERVE PALSY IMPROVE WITH TIME?

It is possible for palsies to resolve with time, and the amount of resolution primarily depends on the underlying cause. Palsy caused by viral illness generally resolves completely; whereas palsy caused by trauma is typically associated with incomplete resolution. Maximum improvement usually occurs during the first six months after onset.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SIXTH NERVE PALSY?

Double vision (2 images seen side by side) is the most common symptom. If one eye is involved, the separation between the 2 images is greatest on gaze in the direction of the affected eye (for example, gaze to the left in a left sixth nerve palsy). There is usually less double vision when looking at objects up close than far away. Children typically do not experience persistent double vision but are prone to develop amblyopia depending on the severity and duration of the sixth nerve palsy.

HOW IS THE DOUBLE VISION ASSOCIATED WITH SIXTH NERVE PALSY ALLEVIATED?

Prism spectacles can realign the images and allow single binocular vision in straight ahead gaze. Because the degree of the misalignment varies in different gaze positions, prism correction does not eliminate double vision in every gaze position. The power of prism can be reduced as the palsy improves. Patching one eye eliminates double vision, however, this treatment must be carefully monitored in children to avoid the development of amblyopia.

CAN SIXTH NERVE PALSY BE FIXED?

After observation for improvement (usually six months), strabismus surgery can be performed to improve eye alignment if prism correction is not satisfactory. Botulinum toxin alone or in conjunction with surgery is occasionally utilized to temporarily weaken the opposing inward pulling medial rectus muscle.

                                                                                                                              Updated 04/2020

#Conditions