Which cranial nerves control eye movements?

• A. Oculomotor (CN III), Trochlear (CN IV), and Abducens (CN VI)
• B. Trigeminal (CN V) and Facial (CN VII)
• C. Optic (CN II)
• D. Vestibulocochlear (CN VIII) and Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)

Answer: (A)

Moving the eyes is controlled by three nerves that innervate the muscles that move the eyeball. The oculomotor nerve powers most of the extraocular muscles and also handles eyelid lifting and pupil constriction, the trochlear nerve drives the superior oblique muscle, and the abducens nerve controls the lateral rectus muscle. Together, these nerves allow the eye to rotate, tilt, and shift side to side for directed gaze and tracking.

The optic nerve is for vision, not movement; the trigeminal and facial nerves deal with facial sensation and facial muscles; the vestibulocochlear and glossopharyngeal nerves are involved in balance/hearing and swallowing, not eye movements.