Duane syndrome: present from birth, and stable
A condition people are born with, where one eye has trouble moving outward, and sometimes inward. It looks worrying but usually isn’t.
What it is
Part 05 · 01Present from birth
It isn’t caused by anything that happened later.
Stable
It doesn’t progress.
Rarely double
Most people don’t see double.
A slight head turn
Helps the eyes work together comfortably.
Looking toward the affected side
Part 05 · 02When looking toward the affected side, that eye can’t follow outward and stays near the middle. When looking the other way, the eyelid opening may narrow slightly.
Children with Duane syndrome still need regular eye tests: some need glasses or develop a lazy eye.
Don’t mistake Duane for a sixth nerve palsy
For optometristsCongenital miswiring
The sixth nerve fails to develop normally and the lateral rectus is innervated by a branch of the third nerve.
On examination
Limited abduction. Globe retraction and narrowing of the palpebral fissure on adduction. Often a compensatory face turn. Diplopia is uncommon.
Old photos
The same face turn in old photos points to a long-standing, congenital cause rather than an acquired palsy.
New limited abduction with diplopia in an adult is a sixth nerve palsy until proven otherwise. See Part 06.
Key takeaways
Part 05- 01Duane syndrome is congenital and stable.
- 02A head turn is the eyes’ own workaround; double vision is uncommon.
- 03Old photos help separate it from an acquired sixth nerve palsy.
Book a binocular vision assessment
Noticed one eye doesn’t move out fully? We’ll confirm what it is and what, if anything, needs doing.
General health information only, not personal advice. Everyone’s eyes are different. An optometrist or doctor should examine you before any treatment is decided.