Overview
Congenital abducens nerve palsy is a rare condition present from birth in which the sixth cranial nerve — called the abducens nerve — does not work properly. This nerve controls the muscle that moves the eye outward (away from the nose). When it is damaged or underdeveloped, the affected eye cannot move fully to the side, and the person may not be able to look outward on the affected side. The condition may affect one eye or both eyes. The most noticeable sign is that the eye turns inward, a condition called esotropia or crossed eyes. To try to see clearly and avoid double vision, many people with this condition turn their head to one side as a way of compensating. Double vision (diplopia) is another common symptom, especially when trying to look to the side. Congenital abducens nerve palsy is sometimes called congenital sixth nerve palsy. It can occur on its own or as part of a broader syndrome, such as Duane retraction syndrome or Möbius syndrome. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, improving eye alignment, and protecting vision. Options include glasses, patching, prism lenses, and in some cases surgery on the eye muscles. With appropriate care, many people can achieve good functional vision and quality of life.
Key symptoms:
Eye turning inward (crossed eye or esotropia)Inability to move the eye outward toward the earDouble vision, especially when looking to the sideHead turning or tilting to one side to compensateSquinting or closing one eye to reduce double visionReduced depth perceptionLazy eye (amblyopia) in some casesAbnormal eye position at rest
Variable
Can be inherited in different ways depending on the underlying gene
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Congenital abducens nerve palsy.
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Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Congenital abducens nerve palsy.
Community
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Caregiver Resources
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Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Is my child's abducens nerve palsy isolated, or could it be part of a broader syndrome?,Should we have genetic testing, and if so, which genes should be tested?,What is the best treatment plan for my child's specific pattern of eye misalignment?,How do we prevent lazy eye from developing, and how long will patching be needed?,Is surgery recommended, and what results can we realistically expect?,How often should my child have eye check-ups, and what should I watch for between visits?,Are there any school accommodations or vision aids that would help my child?
Common questions about Congenital abducens nerve palsy
What is Congenital abducens nerve palsy?
Congenital abducens nerve palsy is a rare condition present from birth in which the sixth cranial nerve — called the abducens nerve — does not work properly. This nerve controls the muscle that moves the eye outward (away from the nose). When it is damaged or underdeveloped, the affected eye cannot move fully to the side, and the person may not be able to look outward on the affected side. The condition may affect one eye or both eyes. The most noticeable sign is that the eye turns inward, a condition called esotropia or crossed eyes. To try to see clearly and avoid double vision, many people
At what age does Congenital abducens nerve palsy typically begin?
Typical onset of Congenital abducens nerve palsy is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Which specialists treat Congenital abducens nerve palsy?
1 specialists and care centers treating Congenital abducens nerve palsy are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.