The Long-Term Effect of Part-Time Occlusion Therapy According to Compliance in Recurrent Intermittent Exotropia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reoperation rate and the change of exo-angle according to compliance level of part time occlusion therapy in recurrent intermittent exotropia. METHODS: This retrospective study included 52 patients of recurrent intermittent exotropia who followed up more than 5 years after their first operation. They were ordered part time occlusion therapy for recurrent exotropia. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the level of compliance of part time occlusion therapy ('excellent', 'good', 'fair', 'poor'). We evaluated the reoperation rate in 5 years after the first operation and the change of exo-angle from the early recurrent time according to compliance levels. RESULTS: The reoperation rate within 5 years after the first operation of 'excellent' and 'good' compliance groups was lower than that of 'fair' and 'poor' groups (33.3, 26.3, 73.7 and 45.5% respectively) and the degree of exo-angle progression from the early recurrent time of the 'excellent' and 'good' compliance groups was less than that of 'fair' and 'poor' compliance groups, both results of which were statistically significant (p=0.02, 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Part time occlusion therapy in recurrent intermittent exotropia has good long-term effects of decreasingreoperation rates in patients with a high level of compliance.