Clinical Manifestations of Constant Infantile Exotropia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical course and surgical outcomes of constant infantile exotopia developed in the first year of life. METHODS: Eighteen patients diagnosed with constant infantile exotropia who underwent surgery between June 1993 and July 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Age at diagnosis and surgery, refractive error, and preoperative and postoperative prism diopters were evaluated for all patients. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 7.3+/-2.2 months (2~11 months) and mean deviation was 47.2+/-16.6 prism diopters (PD) (25~90 PD). Inferior oblique muscle overaction was found in 3 (17%) patients. Bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession was performed in all patients and mean amount of recession was 8.0+/-0.9 mm (7.0~9.0 mm). The mean age at surgery was 16.7+/-4.1 months (7~24 months) and the mean postoperative follow-up period was 34.3+/-23.0 months (7~83 months). Thirteen patients (76%) showed stable alignments after the first operation and 3 patients (18%) required reoperation due to undercorrection and recurrence. Among them, one patient (6%) required a third operation. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical intervention in constant infantile exotropia resulted in good postoperative outcome and stable alignments after the first operation.