Divergence paralysis with raised intracranial pressure. An electro-oculographic study.

Divergence paralysis is characterized by acquired horizontal homonymous diplopia when viewing distant objects but without limitation of ocular movements (Bielschowsky, I935). Although raised intracranial pressure is a significant aetiological factor in the production of divergence paralysis (Bender and Savitsky, I940; Chamlin and Davidoff, I950, 1951), there has been much diversity of opinion as to the underlying mechanism. TIhe present report describes three patients with divergence paralysis in whom electrooculography was used to measure peak angular velocities during horizontal ocular saccades. The apparatus used for electro-oculography has been previously described (Hallpike, Hood, and Trinder, I960; Hood, I968).