Duane syndrome (DS) is an eye movement disorder present at birth (congenital) characterized by horizontal eye movement limitation: a limited ability to move the eye inward toward the nose (adduction), outward toward the ear (abduction), or in both directions.
Duane retraction syndrome (DRS), also known as Stilling–Turk–Duane syndrome, is a congenital eye movement anomaly characterized by variable horizontal duction deficits, with narrowing of the palpebral fissure and globe retraction on attempted adduction, occasionally accompanied by upshoot or downshoot.
The chromosomal location of the proposed gene for this syndrome is currently unknown. Some research shows that more than one gene may be involved. There is evidence that a gene involved in the development of DS is located on chromosome 2.
Disease at a Glance Some people with Duane syndrome develop ""lazy eye"" (amblyopia), a condition that may cause vision loss in the affected eye. Duane syndrome usually only occurs in one eye, and is not associated with other signs or symptoms.
What causes Duane syndrome? Duane syndrome occurs when the sixth cranial nerve — the nerve originating in the brainstem that controls the movements of the lateral rectus muscle — either doesn't develop at all, or doesn't work properly.
Duane syndrome (DS) is a rare eye disorder some people are born with. The muscles and nerves around your eye don't work well together, and that keeps it from moving as it should. The disorder is also known as Duane's syndrome, Duane retraction syndrome, or Stilling-Turk syndrome.
When isolated Duane retraction syndrome is caused by CHN1 mutations, it has an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. In a few families with isolated Duane retraction syndrome, the pattern of affected family members suggests autosomal recessive inheritance .
There's no cure for Duane syndrome, but surgery can be used to try to improve or eliminate issues with head turns, reduce or completely remove considerable misalignment of the eyes, reduce severe retraction of the eyeball, and improve the tendency of the eye to deviate upward or downward with particular eye movements.
The condition remains stable (although it may not always be noticed immediately after birth) and will not get worse, but will not get better. It may be helpful to inform your child's school teacher about their eye condition, if your child needs to turn their head to compensate.
Do Duane Syndrome patients have other eye problems? The problem with the 6th cranial nerve is usually an isolated condition and the child is usually otherwise completely normal. With careful follow-up, the long-term prognosis for good vision is usually excellent.
The only known risk factor of an isolated type of Duane Retraction Syndrome is an affected parent, which leads to a 50% chance of passing the gene onto offspring. This risk, however, is only associated with 10% of isolated cases, as 90% of these cases occur sporadically.