It is a major contributor to the deficits that eventually developed in the patients. Ocular motor apraxia also requires comment. This is a syndrome of saccadic failure. When asked to move the eyes laterally, the patient instead makes a lateral head turn, and the eyes then follow. Some patients make jerking or thrusting head movements as if the extra effort would help the eyes to move.
Pursuit movements are normal, or at least better than conjugate eye movement on command.
Reflex eye movements, such as vestibular ocular reflex, are also present. Once seen, the clinical finding is unforgettable and easy to recognize. In actuality, several kinds of ocular motor apraxia exist, all appearing superficially about the same to the examiner. The use of the word apraxia implies that the movement requested may actually occur under the proper conditions and that the defect is one of planning or organization. However, the term ocular motor apraxia is now used more widely.