[Free mucosa transplant in the correction of extreme deviations of exotropia]

The majority of cases of exotropia with extreme deviations (30-45 degrees or 60-90 prism dioptres) are secondary forms of strabismus, either consecutive, following monolateral combined recession/resection procedures in childhood, extreme anisometropia or following trauma. For the surgical treatment the deviation is often too great to be corrected completely by conventional repositioning of the medial and lateral rectus muscle of the affected eye and patients justifiably refuse an operation even on the main eye because the indications are mostly more aesthetic than functional.

The paper presents a technique of a free mucosa transplant. The effect can be strengthened and made more secure following repositioning of the muscle.

With this method even extreme deviations (up to 45 degrees corresponding to 90 prism dioptres) could be successfully and permanently corrected by surgery on the deviated one eye only.

This method provides a new option for patients who are often incorrectly told that their deviation cannot be corrected by monolateral surgery.