Pilot Study: Use of the Saccadometer to Detect Characteristic Saccadic Peak Velocity in Myasthenia Gravis Patients

The diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis (MG) can be challenging, particularly in its ocular manifestation with current clinical procedures. Previous research has shown that fast eye movements in patients suffering with MG have quite specific characteristics that can be used to correctly diagnose the condition. The Saccadometer is a portable eye movement testing device that may provide the ability to detect the characteristics of fast eye movements that Myasthenia patients alone demonstrate - specifically these are hyperfast movements that are present when slower eye movements are impaired by the disease process. These fast movement characteristics are not present in defects of eye movements due to other aetiologies.

Saccadic properties of a small group of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MG will be measured to identify if characteristic hyperfast saccades are present.

Inclusion criteria

Patient participants

• Confirmed diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis by either a positive acetylcholine antibody serum test (AChR) and/or a positive single fibre electromyograph (SFEMG) test.
• Patient participants must have also had at least one episode of diplopia and/or eye movement abnormality attributed to their diagnosis of MG.

Healthy participants:

• Must have no history of eye movement abnormality
• No have no history of other auto-immune disease (specifically diabetes, Thyroid Eye Disease and Chronic External Ophthalmoplegia).

Exclusion criteria

• Patients without confirmed Myasthenia Gravis diagnosis by means of either a positive AChR serum test and/or a positive SFEMG test.
• Patients with confirmed Myasthenia Gravis who have not had at least one episode of diplopia and or ptosis.
• Patients with current or previous episodes of ocular motility dysfunction that have a confirmed diagnosis other than Myasthenia Gravis.
• Any healthy participant found to have an abnormality of vision or eye movement upon screening or a history of auto-immune disease.