Relationship between control grade, stereoacuity and surgical success in basic intermittent exotropia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Strabismology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology

Background:

• Basic intermittent exotropia is a common form of strabismus.
• Assessing factors influencing surgical outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between control grade, stereoacuity, and surgical success in patients with basic intermittent exotropia.
• To determine if stereoacuity and control grade predict surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 44 patients with basic intermittent exotropia who underwent strabismus surgery.
• Patients were categorized into good, fair, and poor control groups based on pre-operative assessment.
• Near and distance stereoacuity were measured, and surgical success was defined by post-operative ocular alignment.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant association was found between better control grade and improved near and distance stereoacuity (p < 0.01).
• Patients with good control exhibited better stereoacuity (near: 57.50 arc-sec, distance: 108.33 arc-sec) compared to fair (near: 77.77 arc-sec, distance: 148.33 arc-sec) and poor control groups (near: 131.43 arc-sec, distance: 262.82 arc-sec).
• Surgical success rates were 83.33% for good control, 66.67% for fair control, and 64.29% for poor control, though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.28).

Conclusions:

• Better stereoacuity is significantly linked to a higher control grade in basic intermittent exotropia.
• While a trend towards higher surgical success with better control was observed, it did not reach statistical significance.
• Control grade and stereoacuity are important indicators in managing basic intermittent exotropia.