Botulinum Toxin as a Postoperative Diplopia Test – It Can Also Reduce the Angle of Deviation Prior to Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate how frequently botulinum toxin, when used as a postoperative diplopia test, reduces the angle of deviation prior to subsequent strabismus surgery.Methods: A retrospective study of 39 adult patients with constant concomitant horizontal strabismus who had undergone botulinum toxin injections to assess the risk of postoperative diplopia and then subsequently underwent strabismus surgery.Results: Fourteen out of 39 patients (36%) sustained a reduction of 15 prism diopters or more for near and/or distance when comparing the pre-injection angle of deviation with the preoperative angle of deviation.Conclusion: Approximately one-third of patients receiving botulinum toxin as a postoperative diplopia test maintained a significant reduction in the angle of their deviation prior to undergoing surgery.