Abstract

Ocular bobbing is a distinctive movement disorder occurring in a variety of related forms herein classified as `typical', `monocular', and `atypical'. `Typical' ocular bobbing occurs in patients with paralysis of horizontal conjugate eye movements and consists of abrupt, spontaneous downward jerks of the eyes with a slow return to the mid position. The `monocular' type reflects co-existing unilateral third nerve paresis in addition to the bobbing. The `atypical' type includes either a variation unexplained by associated oculomotor palsy, or bobbing with intact spontaneous or reflex horizontal eye movements. The clinical spectrum of ocular bobbing, its varied causes, and its prognostic significance are exemplified in a report of nine cases.