Conjugate lateral eye movements

Conjugate lateral eye movements are the coordinated movements of the eye laterally from side to side as opposed to the vertical movements of up and down. The lateral gaze is controlled by the paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF).

Conjugate gaze
The conjugate gaze is the motion of both eyes in the same direction at the same time, and conjugate gaze palsy refers to an impairment of this function. The conjugate gaze is controlled by four different mechanisms:


 * the saccadic system that allows for voluntary direction of the gaze
 * the pursuit system that allows the subject to follow a moving object
 * the optokinetic system that restores gaze despite movements of the outside world
 * the vestibulo-ocular reflex system (VOR system) that corrects for the movements of the head to preserve the stable visual image of the world