Takayuki Watabe, OT, PhD, Hisayoshi Suzuki, OT, PhD, Marina Abe, OT, MHSc, Kengo Uchibori, OT, MHSc, Kotaro Senga, OT, MHSc
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 13: 36-40, 2022
Introduction: This report presents a case of external
ophthalmoplegia caused by medial longitudinal
fasciculus (MLF) syndrome. The patient underwent
oculomotor rehabilitation by an occupational therapist
during hospitalization and voluntary training supervised
by the occupational therapist after discharge.
Case: The patient presented with MLF syndrome due
to bridge infarction. The left eye had a pronounced
adduction disorder, and diplopia was observed in the
median vision, resulting in severe discomfort in daily
life. During the hospitalization, the patient underwent
eye movement rehabilitation led by an occupational
therapist that included pursuit, fixation, saccades, and
convergence, and after discharge from the hospital, the
patient underwent two sets of voluntary training for 10
min daily to induce pursuit, fixation, and convergence
under the guidance of the occupational therapist. As a
result, the angle of squint, degree of diplopia, and
degree of inconvenience in daily life improved.
Discussion: Eye movement rehabilitation, including
voluntary training, improved external ophthalmoplegia.
Key words: external ophthalmoplegia, MLF syndrome, voluntary training, rehabilitation