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Horizontal and Vertical Look and Stare Optokinetic Nystagmus Symmetry in Healthy Adult Volunteers

From the University of Leicester, Ophthalmology Group, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Leicester, United Kingdom.

PURPOSE. Look optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) consists of voluntary tracking of details in a moving visual field, whereas stare OKN is reflexive and consists of shorter slow phases of lower gain. Horizontal OKN is symmetrical in healthy adults, whereas symmetry of vertical OKN is controversial. Horizontal and vertical look and stare OKN symmetry was measured, and the consistency of individual asymmetries and the effect of varying stimulus conditions were investigated.

METHODS. Horizontal and vertical look and stare OKN gains were recorded in 15 healthy volunteers (40°/s) using new methods to delineate look and stare OKN. Responses with right and left eye viewing were compared to investigate consistency of individual OKN asymmetry. In a second experiment, the symmetry of stare OKN was measured in nine volunteers varying velocity (20°/s and 40°/s), contrast (50% and 100%), grating contrast profile (square or sine wave), and stimulus shape (full screen or circular vignetted).

RESULTS. There was no horizontal or vertical asymmetry in look or stare OKN gain for all volunteers grouped together. However, individual vertical asymmetries were strongly correlated for left and right eye viewing (look: r = 0.77, P = 0.0008; stare: r = 0.75, P = 0.001) and for look and stare OKN (r = 0.66, P = 7.3 x 10^–5) because of a strong correlation for downward moving stimuli (r = 0.73, P = 0.002). Horizontal and vertical asymmetries were not significantly affected by variations in stimulus parameter.

CONCLUSIONS. Although no horizontal or vertical OKN asymmetries existed for volunteers grouped together, vertical OKN was characterized by idiosyncratic asymmetries that remained consistent for an individual. Look and stare OKN gain is strongly associated for downward moving stimuli.