Eye Health Center

Font Size

Duane Syndrome

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Duane Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

DR Syndrome
Duane's Retraction Syndrome
Eye Retraction Syndrome
Retraction Syndrome
Stilling-Turk-Duane Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

Duane Syndrome Type IA, 1B, 1C
Duane Syndrome Type 2A, 2B, 2C
Duane Syndrome Type 3A, 3B, 3C

General Discussion

Duane syndrome (DS) is an eye movement disorder present at birth (congenital) characterized by a limited ability to move the eye inward toward the nose (adduction), outward toward the ear (abduction), or in both directions. In addition, when the affected eye(s) moves inward toward the nose, the eyeball retracts (pulls in) and the eye opening (palpebral fissure) narrows. In some cases, when the eye attempts to look inward, it moves upward (upshoot) or downward (downshoot).

Duane syndrome falls under the larger heading of strabismus (misalignment of the eyes) under the subclassification of incomitant strabismus (misalignment of the eyes that varies with gaze directions) and subheading of extraocular fibrosis syndromes (conditions associated with fibrosis of the muscles that move the eyes). Although the "muscle fibrosis" association suggests that syndromes under this heading are primary disorders of muscle, evidence suggests that DS (and other syndromes under this heading) may be primary disorders of nerve "innervation" (the distribution or supply of nerves).

Duane syndrome has been subdivided clinically into three types: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3.

Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)428-7100
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

Schepens Eye Research Institute
20 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114-2500
Tel: (617)912-0100
Fax: (617)912-0101
Email: geninfo@vision.eri.harvard.edu
Internet: http://www.theschepens.org/

NIH/National Eye Institute
Building 31 Rm 6A32
31 Center Dr MSC 2510
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
United States
Tel: 3014965248
Fax: 3014021065
Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nei.nih.gov/

NIH/Office of Rare Diseases
Steve Groft, Pharm.D.
31 Center Drive,Rm 1B19, MSC 2084
Bethesda, MD 20892-
Tel: (301)402-4336
Fax: (301)480-9655
Email: hh70f@nih.gov
Internet: http://www.rarediseases.info.nih.gov/ord/

Let Them Hear Foundation
1900 University Ave #101
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Tel: (650)462-3143
Fax: (650)462-3143
Tel: (877)735-2929
Email: info@letthemhear.org
Internet: http://www.letthemhear.org

For a Complete Report:

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 3/10/2000
Copyright 1986, 1990, 1994, 1996, 2000 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Last Updated: March 10, 2000

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.