Comparison of Surgical Results Between Bilateral Recession and Unilateral Recession-Resection in Intermittent Exotropia

ABSTRACT

To treat intermittent exotropia, bilateral recession or monocular recession-resection can be chosen. Thirty one cases of intermittent exotropia with preoperative exoangle 25 delta were treated with 8mm bilateral recession (15 cases) and 5.5mm recession of lateral rectus muscle combined with 5mm resection of medial rectus muscle (16 cases). The final surgical results were compared between the 2 groups. The surgical results were as follows in bilateral recession group, 33.3% was satisfactory, 60.0% undercorrected, and 6.7% overcorrected with 13.7 months of follow-up in average, in monocular recession-resection group, 50.0% was satisfactory, 18.8% undercorrected, and 31.3% overcorrected with 13.0 months of follow-up in average. Monocular recession-resection procedure had better satisfactory result than that of bilateral recession procedure. The author agrees the opmion that recession-resection produces a more permanent result than recession alone because the resection of the medial rectus muscle locks the eye in better alignment, preserving the benefit of the recessed lateral rectus muscle.