Intermittent Exotropia

Abstract

We read with interest the article by Nusz et al.1Nusz K.J. Mohney B.G. Diehl N.N. The course of intermittent exotropia in a population-based cohort.Ophthalmology. 2006; 113: 1154-1158Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (85) Google Scholar We agree with the authors that control of the strabismus may be a more useful measure of severity and progression of intermittent exotropia than the size of the dissociated angle. The authors comment that there is currently no standard method for assessing the control of exotropia. We draw their attention to an article by Haggerty et al2Haggerty H. Richardson S. Hrisos S. et al.The Newcastle Control Score: a new method of grading the severity of intermittent distance exotropia.Br J Ophthalmol. 2004; 88: 233-235Crossref PubMed Scopus (86) Google Scholar that outlines a scoring system for the control of exotropia based on criteria previously described by Rosenbaum and Stathocopoulos.3Rosenbaum A.L. Stathocopoulos R.A. Subjective and objective criteria for recommending surgery in intermittent exotropia.Am Orthopt J. 1992; 42: 46-51Google Scholar The authors also highlight the need for a prospective study of exotropia. In fact, a prospective multicenter study employing this scoring system is currently underway in the United Kingdom,4Children’s Eye Research Newcastle. Improving Outcomes in Intermittent Exotropia—IOX(T) study. Available at: http://www.childrenseyeresearch.ncl.ac.uk/ioxt.php. Accessed on February 15, 2007.Google Scholar from which we hope results will be shortly available. We read with interest the article by Nusz et al.1Nusz K.J. Mohney B.G. Diehl N.N. The course of intermittent exotropia in a population-based cohort.Ophthalmology. 2006; 113: 1154-1158Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (85) Google Scholar We agree with the authors that control of the strabismus may be a more useful measure of severity and progression of intermittent exotropia than the size of the dissociated angle. The authors comment that there is currently no standard method for assessing the control of exotropia. We draw their attention to an article by Haggerty et al2Haggerty H. Richardson S. Hrisos S. et al.The Newcastle Control Score: a new method of grading the severity of intermittent distance exotropia.Br J Ophthalmol. 2004; 88: 233-235Crossref PubMed Scopus (86) Google Scholar that outlines a scoring system for the control of exotropia based on criteria previously described by Rosenbaum and Stathocopoulos.3Rosenbaum A.L. Stathocopoulos R.A. Subjective and objective criteria for recommending surgery in intermittent exotropia.Am Orthopt J. 1992; 42: 46-51Google Scholar The authors also highlight the need for a prospective study of exotropia. In fact, a prospective multicenter study employing this scoring system is currently underway in the United Kingdom,4Children’s Eye Research Newcastle. Improving Outcomes in Intermittent Exotropia—IOX(T) study. Available at: http://www.childrenseyeresearch.ncl.ac.uk/ioxt.php. Accessed on February 15, 2007.Google Scholar from which we hope results will be shortly available. Author replyOphthalmologyVol. 114Issue 7PreviewWe respect the work of and are aware of the scale devised by the Newcastle group for assessing control in intermittent exotropia. We have ourselves developed a similar office-based scale for measuring control in this disorder,1,2 as have a number of other investigators.3–5 However, there is currently no widely accepted measure of control among clinicians who evaluate patients with intermittent exotropia. In fact, further studies are warranted to determine the exact role of such scales in assessing patients with this common form of strabismus. Full-Text PDF