Abstract
Purpose :
The aim of this study was to examine the functional connectivity between primary visual cortex and other cortical areas during rest in normal subjects and patients with comitant strabismus using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Methods :
Prospective, observational study. Ten patients with comitant exotropia and eleven matched healthy subjects underwent resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Resting-fMRI was performed using a 3.0T MR scanner. fMRI data were analyzed using Statistic Parametric Mapping software (SPM2, London, UK) and Analysis of Functional Neuroimages software (AFNI).
Results :
The resting-state functional connectivities of primary visual cortex were calculated in each group and compared between strabismic and normal control group. Compared to normal controls, functional dysconnectivity between primary visual cortex and other cortical areas exists in patients with comitant strabismus, especially the connectivity with visual cortex (BA19) and other oculomotor regions, such as frontal eye fied (BA6) and cerebellum.
Conclusions :
The fMRI results suggest that on-going and permanent cortical changes occur in patients with comitant strabismus. Disrupted brain functional connectivities are associated with abnormal eye movement and loss of stereopsis.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.