Gelineau syndrome (narcoleptic syndrome)

General: Etiology not well understood; causes include s 717b12h ubthalamic lesions, multiple

sclerosis, and tumor of third ventricle; onset in adolescence or early adulthood; male preponderance (6:1); most characteristic sign is sudden attack of sleep that cannot be resisted and may last from only a few minutes to half an hour.

Ocular: Transient blurred vision; inability to read between attacks; bilateral diplopia; spontaneous eyelid closing; flickering vision.

Clinical: Diurnal attacks of short episodes of uncontrollable sleep (usually several times a day); cataplexy with decreased or absent muscle tone and paralysis caused by an upset emotional state; hallucinations.

Gelineau E. De La Narcolepsie. Gaz Hop Paris

Keefe WP, et al. Ocular manifestations of narcolepsy. Am J Ophthalmol 1960; 49:953.

Norman ME, Dyer JA. Ophthalmic manifestations of narcolepsy. Am J Ophthalmol 1987; 103:81-86.