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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2010 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 2 | Page : 70-74 |
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Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles
Pascale Cooymans, Sana Al-Zuhaibi, Rana Al-Senawi, Anuradha Ganesh
Department of Ophthalmology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| Date of Web Publication | 9-Jun-2010 |
Correspondence Address:
Pascale Cooymans
Pediatric Ophthalmology Unit, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat
Oman
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-620X.64230
 Abstract | | |
Background : Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles (CFEOM) describes a group of rare congenital eye movement disorders that result from the dysfunction of all or part of the oculomotor (CN 3) and the trochlear (CN 4) nerves, and/or the muscles these nerves innervate.
Aim : To describe the clinical and neuro-radiological findings in three patients with CFEOM and review literature with respect to clinical features, genetics and management of this condition.
Materials and Methods : A retrospective chart review was performed of three Omani patients who had been diagnosed with CFEOM in our institution. All patients had undergone standardized orthoptic and ocular evaluations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbits and brain.
Results : The three patients (age range nine months - 10 years) presented a history of congenital strabismus. All patients had severe bilateral ptosis and mild to moderate visual impairment secondary to the ptosis and astigmatism. Two of three patients demonstrated a positive jaw-winking phenomenon. A moderate to large angle exotropia with varying amount of hypotropia and limitations of almost all the extra ocular muscles was noted. Patient 3 was also developmentally delayed. MRI brain and orbit showed abnormalities of the extraocular muscles in two patients and brain malformation in one patient.
Conclusions : CFEOM is a rare, congenital, and non-progressive disorder with multiple extra ocular muscle restrictions. CFEOM can be associated with neuro-radiological abnormalities; its diagnosis and classification is defined by clinical characteristics and genetics. Options for treatment are limited and difficult. Keywords: CFEOM, ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, restrictive strabismus
How to cite this article:
Cooymans P, Al-Zuhaibi S, Al-Senawi R, Ganesh A. Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles. Oman J Ophthalmol 2010;3:70-4 |
| Introduction | |  |
CFEOM is the term used to describe several different inherited strabismus syndromes which manifest as congenital restrictive ophthalmoplegia (restriction of globe movement in one or more fields of gaze), affecting extraocular muscles innervated by the CNIII and/or CNIV. The term Congenital Cranial Dysinnervation Disorders (CCDDs) was coined to refer to the innervation disorders of the extraocular muscles. [1] The various forms of CFEOM are included in the CCDDs.
In this paper we describe the clinical and neuro-radiological findings in three patients with CFEOM who presented to us with a history of congenital strabismus and ptosis, and review literature with respect to clinical features, genetics and management of this condition.
| Materials and Methods | | |
A retrospective chart review was performed of three Omani patients who had been diagnosed with CFEOM in our institution between the period 2003-08. All patients had undergone standardized orthoptic and ocular evaluations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbits and brain was performed in all patients as part of the evaluation of patients with CFEOM. [2]
This study was approved by the Departmental Research Committee.
| Results | | |
Three Omani patients in the age range of nine months to 10 years were referred for evaluation and diagnosis of complex strabismus. The ocular deviation had been noted in all the three patients from birth. Patient 3 was also developmentally delayed. While patient 1 had undergone bilateral frontalis suspension for congenital ptosis, none of the others had received any treatment.
All the patients had an abnormal head posture (mainly chin up), a lack of facial expression, and complete to severe bilateral ptosis. Two of three patients demonstrated a positive jaw-winking phenomenon. Mild to moderate visual impairment secondary to ptosis and astigmatism was noted in all of them. Orthoptic examination showed moderate to large angle exotropia with varying amount of hypotropia and limitations of almost all the extra ocular muscles, with relative sparing of the lateral recti [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. All patients demonstrated pupillary abnormalities. Based on the findings of clinical examinations all patients were diagnosed by us as CFEOM type II. The clinical characteristics and the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain and orbit are summarized in [Table 1], and [Figure 3] and [Figure 4]. [3],[4],[5],[6]
All the patients received optimal refractive correction and are under follow-up.
| Discussion | | |
CFEOM is a rare, congenital, and non progressive disorder with multiple extra ocular muscle restrictions. Its diagnosis and classification is defined by clinical characteristics and genetics. Based on clinical features and genetics, CFEOM can be classified into three types [Table 2]. Bilateral cases of CFEOM might be very asymmetrical. Numerous ocular and systemic associations have been described in patients with CFEOM [Table 3]. [6] CFEOM has to be differentiated from other conditions which might mimic it [Table 4]. [6] The diagnosis of CFEOM is made by combining the findings of clinical examination, forced duction test, radiological investigations and genetic analysis. This approach affords the best results in planning management. All our patients received the diagnosis of CFEOM type II. However, due to the overlap in the clinical features between different CFEOM groups, genetic evaluation is important in confirming the diagnosis. [7]
CFEOM can be associated with neuro- radiological abnormalities, and neuroimaging has been recommended as part of the evaluation of patients with CFEOM to rule out any intracranial or orbital pathology. [2] Unilateral or bilateral hypoplasia of CN 3 has been demonstrated using high-resolution MRI in many cases of CFEOM. [8] Hypoplasia of CN 3 supports a neuropathic rather than myopathic origin of CFEOM.
CFEOM is not easy to treat. Any refractive error and amblyopia should be corrected. Due to the extreme chin up posture adopted by some of the patients with CFEOM, eccentric viewing through the corrective lenses is commonly encountered, contributing to a sub optimal refractive correction. This might underlie the reduced visual acuity seen in our patients. Significant changes have been observed in refraction following extraocular muscle surgery secondary to a change in magnitude and direction of the force exerted by the muscles on the globe. [9]
The surgical correction of strabismus and ptosis in CFEOM is challenging. Strabismus surgery is always attempted before ptosis correction. The expectations of strabismus surgery should be realistic and parents and patient should be well informed about these expectations. Very large recessions (12mm) of the affected muscles may be indicated. In CCDDs, resections of extraocular muscles are usually avoided from fear of worsening the enophthalmos. [6] A forced duction test should be done pre-operatively and during the strabismus surgery. With respect to ptosis surgery, due to the absence of Bell's phenomenon and the risk of exposure keratopathy, it is advisable that ptosis is under-corrected. The aim of ptosis correction should be to provide a clear visual axis, partly eliminate the head posture, and prevent deprivation amblyopia. [10]
In conclusion, CFEOM is a rare, congenital, and non-progressive disorder with multiple extra ocular muscle restrictions. CFEOM can be associated with neuro- radiological abnormalities; its diagnosis and classification is defined by clinical characteristics and genetics. Options for treatment are limited and difficult, and results of surgery are unpredictable.
| Acknowledgment | | |
We acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Sinan Al-Azawi, Senior Registrar, Department of Radiology and Molecular Imaging, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, for the MRI scans and interpretation.
| References | | |
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| 2. | Flaherty MP, Grattan-Smith P, Steinberg A, Jamieson R, Engle EC. Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles associated with cortical dysplasia and mal development of the basal ganglia. Ophthalmology 2001;108:1313-22. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 3. | Traboulsi EI. Congenital abnormalities of cranial nerve development: overview, molecular mechanisms, and further evidence of heterogeneity and complexity of syndromes with congenital limitations of eye movements. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 2004;102:373-89. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 4. | Doherty EJ, Macy ME, Wang SM, Dykeman CP, Melanson MT, Engle EC. CFEOM3: A new extraocular congenital fibrosis syndrome that maps to 16q24.2-q24.3 Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1999;40:1687-94. |
| 5. | OMIM. Online Mendelian inheritance in Man. Fibrosis of extraocular Muscles, Congenital, 1; CFEOM1. Johns Hopkins University. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=135700 [last cited on 2010 Apr 28]. [last updated on 2010 March 15]. |
| 6. | Mohamad S. Jaafar, MD, Traboulsi EI. Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles. Clinical strabismus management, principles and surgical techniques. In: Rosenbaum AL, Santiago AP, editors. ISBN: 0-7216-7673-1. W.B. Saunders Company; 1999. |
| 7. | Khan AO, Khalil DS, Al Sharif LJ, Al-Ghadhfan FE, Al Tassan NA. Germline mosaicism for KIF21A mutation (p.R954L) mimicking recessive inheritance for congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles. Ophthalmology 2010;117:154-8. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 8. | Lim KH, Engle EC, Demer JL. Abnormalities of the oculomotor nerve in congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles and congenital oculomotor palsy. noneInvest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007;48:1601-6. |
| 9. | Ansons AM, Davis H. Diagnosis and management of ocular motility disorders. 3 rd ed. Chapter 21, ISBN-10:0-632-04798-4. 2010. p. 438. |
| 10. | Liu C, Ohri R, Frongia G, Collin R. Surgical correction of ptosis in ocular fibrosis syndrome. Br J Ophthalmol 1994;78:271-4. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4]
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4]
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