rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:1402 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.135624
  • Video Report

Emergence of diplopia and oscillopsia due to Heimann-Bielschowsky phenomenon after cataract surgery

  1. S-H Jeong1,
  2. Y-M Oh1,
  3. J-M Hwang2,
  4. J S Kim1
  1. 1
    Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
  2. 2
    Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
  1. J S Kim, Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-707, Korea; jisookim{at}snu.ac.kr

    ABSTRACT

    The Heimann-Bielschowsky phenomenon (HBP) refers to coarse vertical oscillation of the eye with impaired vision. The ocular movements are strictly monocular, occurring only in the eye with amblyopia. The vertical oscillation is of equal velocity in both vertical directions, or may sometimes be greater in the downward than upward direction. HBP develops several years after loss of vision. It can be differentiated from dissociated nystagmus in spasmus nutans, congenital nystagmus and internuclear ophthalmoplegia based on the strict unilaterality, vertical direction and low frequency. Previously, only a few reports described the development of oscillopsia due to HBP after cataract surgery, which resolved spontaneously or responded to gabapentin. However, visual impairments due to diplopia or oscillopsia from HBP after cataract surgery have received little attention. We report a man who developed persistent vertical diplopia and oscillopsia due to HBP after a cataract operation, which markedly impaired his vision.

    ▸ To view the full report and accompanying video please go to: http://bjo.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/92/10/1402/DC1

    ▸ All videos from the BJO video report collection are available from: http://bjo.bmj.com/video/collection.dtl

    Footnotes

    • Funding: JSK was supported by the second stage Brain Korea 21 Project in 2006.

    • Competing interests: None.

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. PDF
    3. Video Report

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.