Surgical treatment of pediatric strabismus (PS): series of 148 patients

Abstract

PurposeSurgical management of Pediatric Strabismus (PS) is a frequent reason of consultation in current ophthalmic practice. The aim of this study is to describe the PS epidemiology in patients consulting for surgery.MethodsThis 3 years observational descriptive retrospective study was led in ophthalmological department of university hospital. 148 patients <18 years were included. All patients received complete ophthalmological and orthoptic evaluations to determine the clinical form of strabismus.ResultsThe sex ratio was: 49.3% females vs. 50.7% of males. Exotropia was found in 46.4% of females and 53.4% of males. Esotropia was the predominant etiology (79.6%), then 19% of exotropia and 1.4% of vertical deviation. Mean age at first consultation was 6.6 years (6.3 for esotropia vs. 9.3 for exotropia). 36% had infantile forms, 26% had accommodative strabismus, 13% had an exotropia, 7% had an acquired esotropia. For amblyopia we found only 3% of severe forms whereas moderate and low forms were found in 7.4 and 11.8% of patients. Risk factors of PS identified were neurological diseases (8.1%), hyperopia (+2.33 diopters in average), complicated pregnancy (16.3%) or delivery (27%), prematurity (13 .4%), birth weight lower than 2.5 kg (14.6%) and pedigree of strabismus (74.1%).ConclusionsThe epidemiology of PS in our study is related to other European studies but different from American or Asian studies. The hypothesis are possible ethnic differences and different therapeutic management. Better understanding of these risks factors will enhance the prevention and treatment of this pathology.