Gilles De La Tourette Syndrome: Visual Effects

Abstract

Visual Effects Have Been Measured In Patients With A Confirmed Diagnosis Of Gilles De La Tourette Syndrome (Ts), A Neuropsychiatric Disorder Characterized By Motor And Vocal Tics, And Behavioral Anomalies. Of The Visual Manifestations Revealed, The Authors Consider Anomalies In The Measured Kinetic Paracentral Visual Field And The Visual (And General) Fatigue Effect In This Paper. All 24 Individuals With Tourette Syndrome Studied To Date Exhibit Paracentral Kinetic Visual Field Defects (Arcuate Anomalies, Nasal And Temporal Steps, Enlargement And/Or Baring Of The Blind Spot), And About Half Of These Same Patients Exhibit Loss In Sensitivity In Time Which The Authors Term 'Fatigue' Effects. The Visual Acuity Of These Patients Was Good To Excellent. Visual Field Alterations Were Prechiasmal, Generally Nonsymmetric, And The Most Commonly Affected Isopters On The Goldmann Perimeter Were For Targets I/2e To I/Lb. After Careful Examination And Ophthalmological Consultations, It Was Clear That None Of The Individuals Tested To Date Manifest Glaucoma. Automated Visual Field Measurements Are Not Recommended In This Set Of Patients. Extensive Parallel Studies On Parents, Siblings And Children Have Also Been Conducted With Very Revealing Results. These Data Are Reported Separately.