Diabetic third nerve palsy; Pupil-sparing third cranial nerve palsy

• Double vision
• Drooping of one eyelid (ptosis)
• Pain in the head or behind the eye

An examination of the eyes will determine whether only the third nerve is affected or if other nerves have also been damaged. Signs may include:

• Eyes that are not aligned (dysconjugate gaze)
• Pupil reaction that is almost always normal

Your health care provider will do a complete examination to determine the possible effect on other parts of the nervous system. Depending on the suspected cause, you may need:

• Blood tests
• Tests to look at blood vessels in the brain (cerebral angiogram, CT angiogram, MR angiogram)
• MRI or CT scan of the brain
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)

You may need to be referred to a doctor who specializes in vision problems related to the nervous system (neuro-ophthalmologist).

Images

Central nervous system

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Cranial mononeuropathy III Treatment

Review Date: 06/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)