The eye as a window to the pathophysiology in Parkinson's syndromes

• Published in: Nervenarzt Vol. 84; no. 8; p. 909
• Main Authors: Kassubek, J, Danek, A, Del Tredici-Braak, K, Greenlee, M W, Pinkhardt, E H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Parkinsonian Disorders - complications; Parkinsonian Disorders - diagnosis; Retinal Diseases - diagnosis; Retinal Diseases - etiology; Symptom Assessment - methods; Vision Disorders - diagnosis; Vision Disorders - etiology
• ISSN: 1433-0407
• DOI: 10.1007/s00115-013-3754-3

Although dysfunction of the visual system and dysfunctional eye movements during sporadic Parkinson's disease have been reported for more than 40 years, they have never been the focus of early and/or differential diagnosis. To date Parkinson's disease-related α-synuclein aggregates, i.e., Lewy pathology, are not known to develop either in the retina or in other components of the visual system. In a clinical context it is currently possible to test the involvement of the respective functional systems by means of optical coherence tomography and video oculography. Moreover, non-motor-related abnormalities are detectable both during psychophysical testing of visuospatial function as well as in the form of measurable deficits of color perception. These deficits of the visual and oculomotor systems could prove to be suitable candidates for diagnosing sporadic Parkinson's disease in its early phase in a non-invasive manner. This article is intended to provide an overview of the fundamental pathophysiological principles and clinical aspects of visual system involvement in sporadic Parkinson's disease together with currently available differential diagnostic options.