Is alignment within 8 prism diopters of orthotropia a successful outcome for infantile esotropia surgery?
B. J. Kushner and M. Fisher
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is better long-term motor alignment or
sensory outcome 5 years after surgery for infantile esotropia for patients
who exhibit any of three categories of alignment 6 months after surgery:
orthotropia, up to 8 prism diopters (delta) of esotropia, or up to 8 delta
of exotropia. DESIGN: A 15-year prospective study with 5-year outcome
determination was conducted in surgically treated esotropic infants.
RESULTS: Of 118 patients in the study group, 24 had orthotropia, 84 had up
to 8 delta of esotropia, and 10 had up to 8 delta of exotropia 6 months
after surgery. The patients who were orthotropic 6 months after surgery
were more likely to show good alignment and better binocularity 5 years
after surgery than were patients with small-angle esotropia or small-angle
exotropia. Patients who were esotropic 6 months after surgery were more
likely to have good alignment and binocularity 5 years after surgery than
were patients who were exotropic 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSION:
Small-angle esotropia, small-angle exotropia, and orthotropia are not
equally desirable outcomes after surgery for infantile esotropia.
Orthotropia is a decidedly better outcome than a small-angle esotropia,
which is preferable to a small-angle exotropia.
