8th Nerve
8th Nerve
Normally the VOR will maintain fixation and the eyes will
hold on target.
When the VOR is impaired, the compensatory eye
movement velocity is less than the head movement
velocity; the eyes lag behind the head movement and a
corrective “catch-up” saccade must be made to
resume fixation in the eccentric position.
Dynamic Visual
Acuity
The ability of the VOR to maintain ocular fixation means
that a patient can read even while shaking the head to and
fro.
The dynamic visual acuity test is performed by obtaining a
baseline acuity, and then determining the acuity during
rapid head shaking.
Degradation by more than three lines on the Snellen chart
suggests impaired vestibular function.
Caloric Tests