The treatment of A and V patterns by monocular surgery

H. S. Metz and L. Schwartz

Eleven patients with "A" or "V" pattern strabismus and the absence of notable oblique muscles overactions, were operated on, using the technique of monocular vertical displacement of the horizontal rectus muscles. The average correction of the A or V pattern was 16.5 delta. Subjective torsional complaints were not reported by any of the patients. Torsion was measured postoperatively with the Maddox rod, Maddox wing, and amblyoscope. The average torsional measurement, at least one month postoperatively, was 1.6 degrees with a range of 0 degrees to 7 degrees. It was concluded that monocular vertical displacement of the horizontal rectus muscles can result in satisfactory correction of the A or V pattern and produces no substantial postoperative torsional symptoms or substantial measured torsion at both distance and near fixation.