Success of surgical correction in constant and intermittent exotropias

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the success rate of surgical corrections of constant and intermittent exotropias. A case series. Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital, Karachi, from July 2011 to December 2012. Patients having primary exotropia [deviation 15 - 45 prism diopters [PD]] were included. Patients with either constant exotropia or basic intermittent exotropia underwent unilateral surgery of lateral rectus recession [maximum up to 10 mm] and medial rectus resection [up to 6 mm]. Similarly, when patients had intermittent distance exotropia, underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession [maximum up to 10 mm]. Final outcome was considered at the end of 2 months at which achievement of exotropia was considered as a success. Out of 248 patients, 170 [68.5%] had either constant exotropia or basic intermittent exotropia, while 78 [31.5%] had intermittent distance exotropia. Mean angle of deviation before surgery was 49.23 prism diopters while after surgery, mean angle of deviation was 8.54 prism diopters. Overall success rate was 81.45% [n=202]. In case of unilateral lateral rectus recession and medial rectus resection surgery, the success rate was 85.14% while success rate in case of bilateral lateral rectus recession was 65.21% [p=0.001]. Unilateral lateral rectus recession and medial rectus resection for surgical correction of exotropia had better surgical success rate as compared to bilateral lateral rectus recession.