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Sixth nerve palsy
Other Names for this Disease
- 6th nerve palsy
- Abducens nerve palsy
- Cranial mononeuropathy VI
- Cranial nerve VI palsy
- Sixth cranial nerve palsy
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Overview
Sixth nerve palsy is weakness of the sixth nerve, the nerve that innervates the lateral rectus muscle that pulls the eye away from the nose. When this nerve is weak, the eye turns inward toward the nose (esotropia).[1] Double vision is the most common symptom. Common causes include stroke, brain aneurysms, diabetic neuropathy, trauma, infections, inflammation, tumors, migraine headaches and intracranial pressure. Eye patches, eye glasses, corticosteroids, and botulinum toxin may help alleviate symptoms. While some cases require no treatment, others may need surgery.[1][2]
References
- Sixth Nerve Palsy. American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. http://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/98. Accessed August 19, 2011.
- Dugdale DC, Hoch DB. Cranial mononeuropathy VI. MedlinePlus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000690.htm. Accessed August 19, 2011.
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- The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) provides information about sixth nerve palsy. Click on the link to view information related to this topic.