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Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Bilateral 4th Nerve Palsy

Bilateral 4th Nerve Palsy

Category(ies): Neuro-Ophthalmology
Contributor: John J. Chen, MD, PhD
Photographer: Stefani Karakas, CRA
Posted: May 26, 2014

This patient highlights all of the typical features of bilateral 4th nerve palsies, including a V-pattern esotropia, reversing hypertropia on left and right gaze (also with left and right head tilt - not shown), underaction of the superior oblique in depression while adducting, and overaction of the inferior oblique in elevation while adducting. There was also 15 degrees of excyclotorsion, which could be seen on fundus photographs. The patient was able to fuse with a chin down position (up gaze) to minimize the esotropia.