Trigemino-oculomotor synkinesis: Report of a rare case

• Main Authors: Manjiri Joshi, Mansi Tailor, Balaji Ghugare
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology
• Subjects: Jaw winking; Marcus Gunn phenomenon; ptosis; synkinesis
• Online Access: http://www.jiaomr.in/article.asp?issn=0972-1363;year=2014;volume=26;issue=1;spage=92;epage=94;aulast=Joshi

Trigeminal-oculomotor synkinesis also known as the Marcus Gunn jaw winking phenomenon was first described by the ophthalmologist, Marcus Gunn, in 1883. It is one of the common congenital oculofacial synkinesis, and accounts for approximately 5% of all congenital ptosis. It is characterized by the involuntary winking of eyes during jaw movement, due to an aberrant connection between the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve and one of the divisions of the occulomotor nerve. Here we report an unusual case of the Marcus Gunn jaw winking phenomenon, which was diagnosed accidentally.