Oculo-visual dysfunction in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

This review describes the oculo-visual problems likely to be encountered in Parkinson's disease (PD) with special reference to three questions: (1) are there visual symptoms characteristic of the prodromal phase of PD, (2) is PD dementia associated with specific visual changes, and (3) can visual symptoms help in the differential diagnosis of the parkinsonian syndromes, viz. PD, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD)? Oculo-visual dysfunction in PD can involve visual acuity, dynamic contrast sensitivity, colour discrimination, pupil reactivity, eye movement, motion perception, and visual processing speeds. In addition, disturbance of visuo-spatial orientation, facial recognition problems, and chronic visual hallucinations may be present. Prodromal features of PD may include autonomic system dysfunction potentially affecting pupil reactivity, abnormal colour vision, abnormal stereopsis associated with postural instability, defects in smooth pursuit eye movements, and deficits in visuo-motor adaptation, especially when accompanied by idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder. PD dementia is associated with the exacerbation of many oculo-visual problems but those involving eye movements, visuo-spatial function, and visual hallucinations are most characteristic. Useful diagnostic features in differentiating the parkinsonian symptoms are the presence of visual hallucinations, visuo-spatial problems, and variation in saccadic eye movement dysfunction.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-150686
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry
College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry & Vision Science Research Group (OVSRG)
College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Vision, Hearing and Language
College of Health & Life Sciences > Clinical and Systems Neuroscience
Additional Information: Armstrong, R. A. (2015). Oculo-visual dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Parkinson's Disease, 5(4), 715-726.
Uncontrolled Keywords: differential diagnosis,oculo-visual dysfunction,Parkinsonian syndromes,Parkinsons disease (PD),PD dementia,prodromal phase,Clinical Neurology,Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Publication ISSN: 1877-718X
Last Modified: 11 Mar 2024 08:13
Date Deposited: 28 Jan 2016 14:35
Full Text Link: http://content. ... sease/jpd150686
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Review article
Published Date: 2015-11-24
Authors: Armstrong, R.A. (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-5046-3199)

Download

[img]

Version: Accepted Version


Export / Share Citation


Statistics

Additional statistics for this record