The Surgical Outcomes of Unilateral Lateral Rectus Recession in Recurrent Intermittent Exotropia after Unilateral Recession-Resection

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of unilateral lateral rectus (LR) recession on the contralateral eye for recurrent intermittent exotropia after unilateral recession-resection (R & R). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 43 patients was performed. The patients were classified into 2 groups, 18 patients who underwent unilateral LR recession for intermittent exotropia of 18 to 20 prism diopters (PD) after unilateral R & R (reoperation group) and 25 patients who had primary unilateral LR recession (primary operation group). RESULTS: Significant differences in age, gender, refractive error, preoperative deviation, and near stereoacuity were not observed between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). The mean follow-up duration was 14.28 +/- 14.98 months in the reoperation group and 14.68 +/- 12.15 months in the primary operation group. Postoperative deviations were 1.11 +/- 3.89 PD at near distance and 2.00 +/- 4.70 PD at far distance in the reoperation group and 6.44 +/- 5.26 PD at near distance and 7.00 +/- 5.77 PD at far distance in the primary operation group on the final follow-up (p = 0.000, p = 0.004). The final surgical successful rates were 94.4% in the reoperation group and 64.0% in the primary group (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term surgical results of unilateral LR recession on the contralateral eye was better in patients with recurrent intermittent exotropia of 18 to 20 PD after unilateral R & R than patients who had primary unilateral LR recession.