Vestibulo-ocular Reflex

• Vestibulo-ocular Reflex - Area testing:

  • Occurs during passive movements of the head and serves to stabilize gaze on a stationary object - keeps the target object in the central visual field whilst the head turns (involuntary control)
• Vestibulo-ocular Reflex - Instructions:

  • Passively move head side to side, up and down - patient gazes ahead
  • NB Patient MUST have stable Cervical spine!!
• Vestibulo-ocular Reflex - Outcome:

  • Eyes should move in opposite direction to head movement. (positive test) (so eyes stay looking forward like a doll’s when you turn the head)= normal
  • If eyes move towards the direction of movement = a negative test and indicates brainstem damage
  • If has impaired voluntary eye movements but intact vestibulo-occular reflex indicative of pathology (e.g. Progressive supra nuclear Palsy)