Eye motility dysfunction in chronic primary fibromyalgia with dysesthesia.

Thirty-six patients with "chronic primary fibromyalgia" combined with dysesthesia were studied using oculomotor tests. The test results were compared with those of a control group consisting of 71 healthy persons. The saccades were found to be abnormal in 42% of the patients studied. The maximum velocity of the saccades was often reduced, while the accuracy was normal. The smooth pursuit eye movements were deranged in 89% of the patients. The velocity gain was reduced and the number of corrective saccades was increased. The results indicate that brain dysfunction, often at the brainstem level, is commonly seen in patients with chronic primary fibromyalgia syndrome combined with dysesthesia.