Unilateral and bilateral lateral rectus recession in exotropia

To evaluate the surgical results obtained by unilateral and bilateral lateral rectus recession for the correction of exotropia.

The charts of all patients with exotropia who were operated on at the Goldschleger Eye Institute at Sheba Medical Center during an 11-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Study participants all underwent a complete orthoptic and ocular examination. Twenty-five patients with moderate-angle exotropia underwent unilateral lateral rectus recession (group 1) and 38 patients with large-angle exotropia underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession (group 2). The angle of exotropia was measured by the prism and cover test. Moderate exotropia was defined as 25 prism diopters (PD) and large-angle exotropia as greater than 25 PD.

The mean age at the time of the surgery was 10.0+/-5.2 years in group 1 and 8.5+/-8.0 years in group 2. The mean preoperative exotropia was 16.1+/-5.7 PD in group 1 and 29.6+/-14.4 PD in group 2. A mean postoperative exodeviation of 4.2+/-5.4 PD was found in group 1 and 5.8+/-13.6 PD in group 2. The success rate (deviation of < 10 PD) was 84% in group 1 and 74% in group 2. There was no incomitance in group 1.

Unilateral lateral rectus recession is an effective surgical method for correcting moderate-angle exotropia with results similar to bilateral lateral rectus recession for larger exotropia angles.