Long-Standing, Large-Angle Exotropia in Adults

Abstract

Introduction and PurposeThis study examines the sensory and motor results in adult patients with large-angle exotropia treated with nonadjustable bilateral recess-resect procedures.MethodsA consecutive series of adult patients undergoing four-muscle surgery for exotropia ≤ 50Δ with no previous surgery were identified by retrospective medical record review. All patients had nonadjustable symmetric bilateral medial rectus resections and bilateral lateral rectus recessions performed between 1995 and 2006. Data on postoperative alignment, stereoacuity, and the presence or absence of diplopia were collected.ResultsEight patients met the inclusion criteria. Seven of eight patients required only one surgical procedure for correction of the exotropia with final postoperative deviations within 10Δ of orthophoria. One patient required reoperation resulting in a final postoperative measurement of 10Δ of esotropia. At final examination, no patient reported diplopia. Four of eight patients had postoperative stereoacuity ranging from 200 to 40 seconds of arc.ConclusionsLong-standing, presumably constant, large-angle exotropia does not preclude the recovery of stereopsis after surgical alignment. Permanent postoperative diplopia did not occur in our series. In spite of the large deviations, nonadjustable surgery produces good alignment in most cases, possibly because these patients retain some fusion ability.