Seminars in
Ophthalmology, 21:213, 2006 Copyright c Informa
Healthcare>> Health care ISSN: 0882-0538 DOI: 10.1080/08820530601120881 Introduction Walter M. Jay Department of
Ophthalmology, Loyola University
Medical>> medicine Center, Maywood, IL, USA This issue of Seminars in
Ophthalmology contains a collection of articles devoted to the field of Neuro-
Ophthalmology. The first article by Kardon, Morrisey, and Lee entitled “Abnormal
multifocal>> Progressive lens electroretinogram (MERG) in
ethambutol>> Ethambutol toxicity>> Toxicity” uses a relatively new
electrophysiologic>> Electrophysiology technique to shed light on a
disease>> Disease entity that was previously thought to be purely an
optic nerve>> Optic nerve disease>> Disease. Conventional electroretinography records a diffuse or global
retinal>> Retinal response. In
multifocal>> Progressive lens electroretinography, measurements are taken in focal areas of the
retina>> Retina in a perimetric fashion. Thus, localized
retinal>> Retinal abnormalities may be determined.
Ethambutol toxicity>> Toxicity has long been considered a disorder of the
optic nerve>> Optic nerve. The present article concludes that based upon abnormal MERG findings,
ethambutol>> Ethambutol toxicity>> Toxicity affects not only the
optic nerve>> Optic nerve, but probably other
retinal elements>> Photoreceptor cell as well. The
Guillain-Barre Syndrome>> Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is characterized by an ascending
muscle>> Muscle paralysis>> Paralysis with progressive loss of
muscle>> Muscle stretch reflexes. The
syndrome>> Syndrome is of importance to
ophthalmologists>> Ophthalmology in that the Fisher variant of GBS may present with
ophthalmoplegia>> Ophthalmoparesis. In “GQIb
antibody>> Antibody testing in
Guillain-Barre syndrome>> Guillain–Barré syndrome and variants,” Chaudrhy et al. reviews the clinical features of GBS and various subtypes. The article also discusses the value of using a specific
blood test>> Blood test, GQ1b
antibody>> Antibody testing, in diagnosing the
disease>> Disease. By studying a patient with a
rare disease>> Rare disease with
oculomotor>> Oculomotor nerve recordings, it is sometimes possible to obtain a deeper understanding of the underlying
oculomotor>> Oculomotor nerve mechanisms. In “‘Staircase’
saccadic>> Saccade intrusions plus transient yoking and
neural>> Nervous system integrator failure associated with
cerebellar hypoplasia>> Cerebellar hypoplasia: a model stimulator,” Rucker et al. studied a patient with
Joubert syndrome, a
disease>> Disease characterized by severe
hypotonia>> Hypotonia,
ataxic>> Ataxia speech, motor and language delays, and
torticollis>> Torticollis. In the present articles, the authors present hypothesized ocular motor mechanisms of unique “staircase-like” sequences of
saccadic>> Saccade intrusions in one direction which they have named “staircase
saccadic>> Saccade intrusions.”
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) is commonly associated with
multiple sclerosis>> Multiple sclerosis and midbrain
strokes>> Stroke. It may also rarely be seen following trauma. Doe and Jay describe a case of a 23 year old man who developed a unilateral traumatic
internuclear ophthalmoplegia>> Internuclear ophthalmoplegia following a fall from a roof.
MRI>> Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a midbrain
lesion>> Lesion slightly left of midline. The article also reviews previous cases of traumatic internuclear ophthalmoplegias found in the
medical>> medicine literature. Finally, Bajwa et al. reviews the neuro-
ophthalmologic>> ophthalmology manifestations of
epilepsy>> Epilepsy. The article emphasizes that there is considerable overlap in the transient
visual>> Visual system disturbances in
epilepsy>> Epilepsy and those found in migraines and
transient ischemic attacks>> Transient ischemic attack. As guest editor of this issue of Seminars in
Ophthalmology, I do hope that you find this issue both enlightening and enjoyable. 213