Sixth Nerve Palsy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Sixth nerve palsy (also called abducens palsy) is a condition in which the sixth cranial nerve (abducens nerve) is damaged, resulting in weakness or paralysis of the lateral rectus muscle of the eye. The lateral rectus muscle is responsible for moving the eye outward (away from the nose).

The sixth nerve palsy causes the affected eye to turn inward (toward the nose), and the person may have difficulty looking outward on the affected side. Other symptoms may include double vision (diplopia), eye pain, and drooping of the eyelid (ptosis).

Sixth nerve palsy can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

- Trauma, such as a head injury or a blow to the eye

- Brain tumors

- Aneurysms

- Diabetes

- Multiple sclerosis

- Guillain-Barré syndrome

- Myasthenia gravis

Treatment for the sixth nerve palsy depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem. In other cases, eyeglasses or prisms may be prescribed to help with double vision.