The author presents a postgraduate review of the problem. In the introduction he reviews typical features of Duane’s retraction syndrome (DS) and its main symptoms and reminds of the main approaches to classification: (1) Malbrane s (Duane I, IIandIII), (2)Huber’swhichisbasedonEMGfindingsinZOSand(3) Kaufman’ s which classifies DS according to the enforced position of the head. The author maintains that even according to the above many atypical rare pictures cannot be classified or explained pathogenetically. Some are mentioned: (1) „Inverse“ DS, which was recorded and documented by Chytilová-Divišová (1949) in a girl with congenital paralysis of abduction on both eyes retraction of the bulbus developed and narrowing of the palpebral aperture when attempting abduction (1) of the eye, (2) Bilateral acquired DS in a female patient with a tumour of the brain stem confirmed by EMG records of both horizontal muscles. (3) Unilateral DS in a child from a family with familial incidence of congenital ZOS fibrosis with an obscure ratio of the neurogenic and myogenic and fibrous component of the two pictures. In another member of this family the Marcus Gunn phenomenon was present. The latter findings support the idea that in the development of the fairly uniform picture of DS a combination of neurogenic, myogenic and connective tissue changes participate.

        Key words: Duane’s retraction syndrome, classification, diagnosis