Anatomic Aspects of Intermittent Exotropia in Childhood

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to find out the difference in between the anatomic properties children with intermittent exotropia and children with orthophoria. METHODS: The intermittent exotropia group consisted of 35 patients who had an angle of deviation of more than 15 prisms. The control group consisted of 35 orthophoric children with comparable age and sex ratio. From the view of skull AP, we compared the diameter, interlateral wall distance, and intermedial wall distance of the orbital rim. Also we compared the intercanthal distance, interlateral canthal distance of eyelids, and interpupillary distance. RESULTS: The average values of interpupillary distance, intercanthal distance, and interlateral canthal distance of exotropic group were 54.23+/-1.85 mm, 34.75+/-1.66 mm, and 78.25+/-4.21 mm, respectively. Compared to those of control group, which were 53.59+/-1.21 mm, 33.56+/-1.54 mm, and 76.68+/-3.23 mm, respectively, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The average values of the diameter, interlateral wall distance and the intermedial wall distance of the orbital rim were not significantly different between two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the anatomic properties including orbital rim size and orbital exodeviation did not seen to influence the development of intermittent exotropia.