Effect of Both Lateral Rectus Recession in Large Angle Exotropia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate of the effect of both lateral rectus recession according to the amount of the recession in the patients who showed large angle (>or=35 prism diopter, PD) exotropia. METHODS: The 120 patients who underwent both lateral rectus recession and followed up more than 1 year between 1996 to 2002 at Chung-nam university hospital, were reviewed. The effect of both lateral rectus recession was compared according to the amount of recession and preoperative angle of deviation. Successful outcome was defined as esotropia exotropia RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 6.6 years (1~24 years) and follow up time was 27.8 months (12~36 months). 72.5% (87 of 120) had successful outcome overall. the occurrence rate of undercorrection was 25.0% and overcorrection was 2.5%. The success rate in group with preoperative deviations greater 50 PD was significantly different from the group with deviation under 50 PD (p=0.042). Overcorrection was not noted except in 2 patients (4.2%) among 35-40 PD group and 1 patient (5.0%) among 40-45 PD group. Abduction limitation was not noted in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

In extropia with less than 50 PD, both lateral rectus recession was effective Method because success rate was high. After maximal 10.0 mm recession in both lateral rectus in exotropia with more than 50 PD, abduction limitation and overcorrection was not occurred. But undercorrection rate was high and success rate was low. So the maximal 10.0 mm recession in both lateral rectus was safe but ineffective Method.