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Sixth Nerve Palsy

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 pulls the eye away from the nose and when  the lateral rectus muscle is weak, the eye turns inward toward the nose (esotropia). The esotropia is larger  on distance fixation and  on gaze to the same side as the affected lateral rectus muscle.

What causes cranial nerve VI palsy?

The most common causes of 6^th 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 not 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 can, and the amount of resolution primarily depends on the 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. There is usually less double vision  on near  fixation than on distant  fixation. Children typically do not experience persistent double vision, but are more prone to develop amblyopia.

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 diplopia, 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 maximize eye alignment if prism correction is not satisfactory. Botulinum toxin alone or in conjunction with surgery is occasionally utilized to temporarily weaken the inward pulling medial rectus muscle.