You can't move one eye because of a neurological condition affecting the muscles that control eye movement. This is often a symptom of a more significant underlying issue.
Understanding Eye Movement
Our eyes move thanks to six muscles in each eye socket, controlled by nerves originating in the brainstem. These nerves and muscles work together in a coordinated fashion to allow us to look in different directions. When this coordination is disrupted, problems with eye movement can occur.
Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia: A Common Cause
One potential cause of an inability to move one eye is internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO). As defined by the provided reference, INO means "one (or both) of your eyes not moving when you look to the side." Specifically, the affected eye won't move past the center or fully turn in the direction of gaze. This condition arises from damage to specific nerve pathways in the brainstem that connect the eye movement centers.
Symptoms of INO:
- Difficulty looking sideways.
- One eye doesn't move past the center when looking to one side.
- The other eye may overshoot its target when looking sideways.
- Double vision (diplopia) may occur.
Other Potential Causes
While INO is a common cause, other conditions can also impair eye movement. These might include:
- Muscle or nerve damage: Trauma, stroke, or other neurological diseases can damage the muscles or nerves responsible for eye movements.
- Myasthenia gravis: An autoimmune disease impacting neuromuscular junctions, causing muscle weakness.
- Multiple sclerosis: This chronic inflammatory disease affects the brain and spinal cord, often impacting nerve signals to eye muscles.
It is crucial to consult a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment if you experience difficulties moving one eye. The inability to move an eye is not a condition to self-diagnose; professional evaluation is essential.
