Cranial mononeuropathy III -- diabetic type -- is usually a complication of diabetes that causes double vision and eyelid drooping.
Alternative Names
Diabetic third nerve palsy; Pupil-sparing third cranial nerve palsy
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Cranial mononeuropathy III - diabetic type is a mononeuropathy, which means that only one nerve is damaged. It affects the third cranial (oculomotor) nerve, which is one of the cranial nerves that controls eye movement.
This type of damage may occur along with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Cranial mononeuropathy III is the most common cranial nerve disorder in people with diabetes. It is due to damage to the small blood vessels that feed the nerve.
Other causes may include:
Infarction of the nerve (tissue damage from loss of blood flow)
An examination of the eyes will determine whether only the third nerve is affected or if other nerves have also been damaged. Signs may include:
Eyes that are not aligned (dysconjugate gaze)
Pupil reaction that is almost always normal
Your health care provider will do a complete examination to determine the possible effect on other parts of the nervous system. Depending on the suspected cause, you may need:
Review Date:
6/3/2012
Reviewed By:
Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
