Short-Term Changes of Immediate Postoperative Deviation after Lateral Rectus Recession for Intermittent Exotropia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of short-term changes in immediate postoperative deviation, and to evaluate the relationship of these to clinical factors after lateral rectus recession for intermittent exotropia. METHODS: One hundred patients who had lateral rectus recession performed for intermittent exotropia and who had at least 3 months of postoperative follow-up were included in this study. RESULTS: The average angle of esodeviation on postoperative day 1 was 8.2 (-5 ~ +25) delta. The rate of surgical success (or=10delta on postoperative day 1 showed a higher chance of surgical failure due to overcorrection at postoperative 3 months (p=0.002). The preoperative deviating angle, type of exotropia, and combined oblique muscle surgery did not influence the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: An esodeviation of 10 ~ 15delta on postoperative day 1 was related to a good outcome at postoperative 3 months. Less esodeviation and smaller exotropic drift occurred in patients aged 10 years and older, so it is possible that an initial overcorrection of >or=10delta may remain for a long period of time in the older patient group.