Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
This article covers the symptoms and causes of Weber’s syndrome. You’ll also learn how this condition is diagnosed and treated.
Daisy-Daisy / Getty Images
What Are the Symptoms of Weber’s Syndrome?
Weber’s syndrome can cause sudden weakness and vision changes, usually blurred or double vision, and eyelid droopiness. Weakness in the muscles of the face, arms, and legs is also possible.
In the case of a stroke, eye movement and eyelid function are affected on the side of the infarction, with weakness of the face, arm, and leg on the opposite side.For example, a left-side stroke would affect the left eye and right face, arm, and leg.
Immediately after the stroke, symptoms may be at their worst because there may be swelling in and around the brainstem, which exacerbates the effect of the event.
Generally, the severity of Weber’s syndrome symptoms depends on the severity of the midbrain injury. Regardless, if you experience symptoms, seek medical care immediately.
Causes of Weber’s Syndrome
Weber’s syndrome indicates an injury to the left, right, or both sides of the midbrain. A stroke normally affects only one side, while an infection or injury can affect one or both sides.
In the setting of a stroke, patients with Weber’s syndrome usually have an interruption of blood flow through the left or right posterior cerebral artery, the main vessels supplying blood to the midbrain. This interruption can damage thethird cranial nerve, a key motor nerve that helps control eye and eyelid movement.
Sometimes, if a tiny branch of the posterior cerebral artery is interrupted, then the symptoms of a stroke are milder and less extensive than they would be if the whole posterior cerebral artery was interrupted. Normally, only a branch of the artery is interrupted in Weber’s syndrome strokes, though severity can vary.
In these rare cases, Weber’s syndrome would appear to be a diagnosis that comes after the initial malady is examined and treated. Whether Weber’s syndrome resolves in these types of cases will depend on the unique circumstances.
How Is Weber’s Syndrome Diagnosed?
Your medical team will base your diagnosis on visible symptoms and a physical examination, but pinpointing Weber’s syndrome can be tricky.
One tool that has become key in diagnosing midbrain strokes is diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), a form ofmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one study, combined DWI techniques improved midbrain infarction detection rates without extra time expenditure.
Note: Weber’s syndrome isnotthe same as Sturge-Weber syndrome, a rare condition diagnosed in newborns who have abnormal blood vessels on their face that can cause stroke-like weakness.
Treatment for Weber’s Syndrome
Any brain injury is a serious medical emergency, and urgent treatment is necessary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke patients who go to the hospital via ambulance may be diagnosed and treated faster than those who don’t call 911.
After initial care that addresses the cause of your symptoms, most people experience some improvement over time because swelling and inflammation in the brain diminish.
Your healthcare provider will guide yourrecoverydepending on the specifics of your case. Physical therapy (PT) aids in stimulating the healing of the brain injury and will likely be a key part of treatment. PT can also optimize your ability to move the muscles of your eye (in addition to those elsewhere in your body) despite any lingering brain damage.
Recovery can take weeks, months, or years, depending on the severity of your midbrain injury, and may never be total. Your healthcare provider will be able to advise you on your prognosis.
If you have Weber’s syndrome due to a stroke, that means that you may have otherstroke risk factors. A thorough medical evaluation can determine which stroke risk factors you have so that you can make the lifestyle changes necessary or take the medications needed to prevent another stroke.If you have Weber’s syndrome due to another illness or problem involving the brain, you are likely to experience improvement of your symptoms if the other issue can be addressed.
If you have Weber’s syndrome due to a stroke, that means that you may have otherstroke risk factors. A thorough medical evaluation can determine which stroke risk factors you have so that you can make the lifestyle changes necessary or take the medications needed to prevent another stroke.
If you have Weber’s syndrome due to another illness or problem involving the brain, you are likely to experience improvement of your symptoms if the other issue can be addressed.
Brainstem Stroke Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Syndromes
Summary
Weber’s syndrome is a neurological condition that may cause weakness, sudden vision changes, or eyelid droopiness. It results from an injury to the midbrain, most often a stroke. Less common causes include brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, and infection.
Get immediate medical help if you or someone else has symptoms of a stroke. Treatment of the initial symptoms will be the first goal of emergency care. Diagnosing Weber’s syndrome may require the use of special MRI imaging techniques. Recovery will likely involve physical therapy to help regain any lost function.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hatgaonkar A, Hatgoankar K, Jobanputra M, Desale P.Clinico-radiological correlation of Weber’s syndrome.Cureus. 2024;16(1):e51624. doi:10.7759/cureus.51624
Parija S, Lalitha CS, Naik S.Weber syndrome secondary to brain stem tuberculoma.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2018;66(7):1036-1039. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1040_17
Sheikh Hassan M, Osman Sidow N, Adam BA, Adani AA.Superior alternating hemiplegia (Weber’s syndrome)—case report.Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022;77:103674. doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103674
de la Garma E, et al.Weber syndrome due to penetrating wound in midbrain.Arch Neurosci (Mexico). 2014;19(1):53-56. doi:10.31157/an.v19i1.31
Stephen AM, Sebastian S, Baranitharan, Harigaravelu PJ.Post-traumatic Weber’s syndrome: a rare presentation.Indian J Surg. 2021;83(S1):213-215. doi:10.1007/s2262-020-02529-9
Sitthinamsuwan B, Nunta-aree S, Sitthinamsuwan P, Suwanawiboon B, Chiewvit P.Two patients with rare causes of Weber’s syndrome.J Clin Neurosci. 2011;18(4):578-579. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2010.07.135
Muthu V, Kumar S, Prakash G, Sharma P, Varma S.Image diagnosis: Weber syndrome: a rare presentation of acute leukemia-a case report and review of the literature.Perm J. 2015;19(1):83-85. doi:10.7812/TPP/14-126
Ballaekere JS, Chebbi PP, Sundarmurthy H, Parameshwarappa A.Weber syndrome: herpes simplex virus brainstem encephalitis as an etiology.Am J Med. 2014;127(12):e5-e6. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.08.005
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for stroke.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
