[Intermittent exotropia: bilateral lateral rectus recession treatment and long term results]

To describe the long-term surgical outcomes of bilateral lateral rectus recession in patients with intermittent exotropia.

Retrospective review of 18 patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia between 1995 and 2005 who underwent surgical treatment in the Ramon y Cajal Hospital.

Of the 18 patients with intermittent exotropia, 50% were basic subtype. All of them underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession, associated with a previous failed botulinum toxin injection in 8 of them. Satisfactory results (less than 10 PD orthophoria) were obtained in 68.2% of the patients after a 4.5-year follow-up period.

Bilateral lateral rectus recession is an effective and stable surgical procedure in the long-term motor control of intermittent exotropia, especially in basic subtype. Previous injection of botulinum toxin did not affect the results.