The Natural History and Treatment of Superior Oblique Myokymia

The clinical presentations and long term course of 16 patients with superior oblique myokymia (SOM) were investigated nine patients were men, and 7 were women, with age of onset of symptoms varying from 22 to 50 years (mean, 34 years). The right eye was affected in 13 patients. All patients were otherwise healthy adults with no history of neurologic illness. No clear prec1p1tant for the onset of symptoms was noted in 13 patients. Seven of the 16, complained of Parkinson's of uniocular "shimmering", 3 complained of episodes of vertical and torsional diplopia, and 6 had both symptoms. Five of the 16 had normal neuro-imaging studies.