Strabismus surgery for large-angle cyclotorsion after macular translocation surgery

We report the results of a new strabismus surgical procedure to address the large-angle cyclotorsion induced by macular translocation surgery for severe age-related macular degeneration.

The strabismus surgery described is a modification of earlier-described surgery(1) and was performed for symptomatic incyclotorsion measuring 20 degrees or more (by Maddox rod testing) after macular translocation. Surgery included superior oblique tenotomy and inferior oblique advancement, with transposition of the lateral and medial recti to the insertions of the superior and inferior recti, respectively, in the affected eyes. Minimum follow-up time was 6 weeks.

Fifteen patients (15 eyes) had macular translocation surgery with incyclotorsion of 20 degrees or more. Mean incyclotorsion after macular translocation (36.1 +/- 9.4 degrees; range, 20-55) was reduced to 1.5 +/- 6.4 degrees after strabismus surgery (P <.0001), with 2 overcorrections and no surgical complications. Mean follow-up time was 24.8 +/- 13.4 weeks. All patients showed a hypertropia of the fellow eye. The mean pre-op hypertropia of 22 +/- 8 PD was reduced to 3 +/- 9 PD after strabismus surgery (P <.0001). The mean exotropia was minimally altered by strabismus surgery (21 +/- 10 PD pre vs 17 +/- 8 PD postop). All patients were symptomatic prior to strabismus surgery: 4 of 15 patients with "tilt" (objects appearing subjectively rotated with respect to their true orientation); 2 of 15 patients with diplopia; and 9 of 15 patients with both. Postoperatively, 7 patients had residual milder symptoms: tilt, 2 patients; diplopia, 3 patients; and both, 2 patients. Two patients required additional muscle surgery (on the fellow eye) for persistent symptoms. No patient showed binocular function (stereopsis or motor fusion) after macular translocation, either before or following strabismus surgery for cyclotorsion.

The strabismus surgery described is effective at reducing the large degree of cyclotorsion (>or= 20 degrees) often resulting from macular translocation surgery, but does not allow reestablishment of binocular function.