Survey of saccadic parameters using videonystagmography in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and normal subjects

Patients with Parkinson's disease manifest oculomotor abnormalities. This is the consequence of basal ganglia impairment. The most common abnormalities include increased saccade latency، hypometric saccades and decreased saccade velocity. The purpose of this study was comparison of saccadic parameters using videonystagmography in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and normal subjects.

In this cross sectional study، saccadic movements were investigated in thirty patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and thirty age matched subjects were 35-70 years old. Saccade latency، velocity and accuracy were quantitatively analyzed.

Results of this study indicated increased saccade latency، reduction of saccade velocity and accuracy in patients with Parkinson's disease (P<0. 001).

This study showed that patients with Parkinson's disease manifest saccadic deficits. This suggests dopaminergic control of these ocular movements.