ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To report a male infant with bilateral Duane's retraction syndrome treated with bilateral horizontal transpositions of vertical recti to the lateral rectus muscle. METHODS: An 8-month-old boy showed bilateral Duane's retraction syndrome with esotropia of 45PD, severe limitation of abduction (-4 and -3.5 in each eye) and mild globe retraction in both eyes. It was assumed that he inherited the condition from his father through an autosomal dominant pattern. His father showed esotropia of 25PD with -4 limitation of abduction in the left eye and a left head-turn of 10 degrees. He also had +2 globe retraction, +1 upshoot and +2 downshoot in adduction of the left eye. Transposition of two vertical recti to the lateral rectus muscle was performed in both eyes of the boy. RESULTS: Nine months after surgery, the boy had achieved a microesotropia of 6PD in primary gaze with stereopsis of 3000 seconds of arc and considerable improvement in abduction (-2, -1.5 in each eye). The amount of correction of esodeviation was 39PD. This favorable state was maintained at follow-up 3.5 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: An 8-month-old boy who had esotropia of 45PD caused by bilateral Duane's retraction syndrome, underwent bilateral horizontal transpositions of vertical recti to the lateral rectus muscle. He achieved a microesotropia of 6PD in primary gaze and considerable improvement of abduction with only mild eyeball retraction.