Bilateral familial Duane's retraction syndrome.

Background: Duane's retraction syndrome (DRS) is a congenital oculomotor anomaly that is accompany by globe retraction with simultaneous narrowing of the palpebral fissure on attempted adduction. Hereditary factors have been postulated to be associated with the development of DRS since 1879. However, the modern literature fails to provide substantial scientific evidence to support this premise.

Methods: A 7-year-old patient presented with bilateral abduction deficit and retraction of the globe with narrowing of the palpebral fissure on attempted adduction.

Conclusions: We present a case of Duane's retraction syndrome in which an investigation of the family history uncovered 4 generations of affected family members, lending support to the theory that some cases of DRS are inherited.