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Ophthalmologist

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Möbius syndrome.

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025

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Mobius syndrome is a very rare sporadic congenital anomaly.

trusted-source [ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ]

Ophthalmologic symptoms of Mobius syndrome

Horizontal gaze palsy - in 50% of cases, vertical gaze usually remains intact.
Bilateral paralysis of the sixth pair of cranial nerves.
Esotropia in the primary position and correct eye position - the same number of cases (50% each).
Pseudoesotropia may occur in children who have learned cross-fixation, since adduction and convergence are not affected.

Systemic manifestations of Mobius syndrome

Exotropia in congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles syndrome (Courtesy of the Wilmer Institute)

Bilateral facial nerve paralysis, usually asymmetrical and often incomplete, giving the face a mask-like appearance and causing difficulty closing the eyelid.
Paresis of the IX and XII pairs of cranial nerves, which may result in tongue atrophy.
Mild mental disorders.
Limb anomalies.

What do need to examine?

Eye

How to examine?

Eye examination

Visual acuity: Visual acuity test