Of all the bizarre residual encephalitic manifestations, probably none is more inexplicable than the oculogyric crises. In earlier epidemics of encephalitis, eye symptoms were very prominent ; now we see an increasing number of patients with parkinsonian residuals accompanied by late manifestations of the eyes. The name oculogyric crises has been given to the syndrome in which paroxysmal spasmodic deviations of the eyeballs occur, either upward, downward or laterally. The eyes become fixed in one plane, frequently with a fluttering or an involuntary forced closure of the eyelids.
Although the neurologic literature for the past five years is replete with reported cases and discussions, we believe that the ophthalmologist and the internist have not been sufficiently informed concerning this disorder.
This report will collate the observations of the late Dr. Harold Gifford's1 and Dr. G. Alexander Young's offices on seven cases presented to us during the past two