Reduced stereoacuity in Williams syndrome

Strabismus is a frequently recognized manifestation of Williams syndrome [Greenberg and Lewis, 1988: Ophthalmology 95:1608-1612; Kapp et al., 1995: Am J Ophthalmol 119:355-360]. We recently evaluated the ophthalmologic function of 12 patients with Williams syndrome (WS), with an emphasis on binocularity. Four of 12 patients (33%) had measurable strabismus. Of the 8 remaining patients, examination of binocular function was possible in 6, all of whom demonstrated reduced stereoacuity. We speculate that subnormal binocular vision and the poor visuospatial performance observed in patients with WS may be related to abnormal brain morphogenesis in the region of the occipitoparietal cortex.