ocular myasthenia

Many myasthenia gravis patients start out with this "ocular myasthenia."

Boireau suffered from a rare neuromuscular disorder called ocular myasthenia gravis.

Patients with mild-to-moderate ocular myasthenia are usually treated initially with oral anticholinesterase agents, Mestinon (pyridostigmine) being the most commonly employed.

Ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease of the neuromuscular junction resulting in hallmark variability in muscle weakness and fatigability.

There is a slight genetic predisposition: particular HLA types seem to predispose for MG (B8 and DR3 with DR1 more specific for ocular myasthenia).

The condition may be restricted to certain muscle groups, particularly those of the eyes (ocular myasthenia gravis), or may become more generalized (generalized myasthenia gravis), involving multiple muscle groups.

Some commonly seen diseases that a neuro-ophthalmologist may see include optic neuritis, optic neuropathy, papilledema, ocular myasthenia gravis, brain tumors or stroke affecting vision, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, unexplained visual loss, headaches, diplopia, blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm.

The degree of muscle weakness involved in MG varies greatly among patients, ranging from a localized form that is limited to eye muscles (ocular myasthenia), to a severe and generalized form in which many muscles--sometimes including those that control breathing--are affected.