The magician's forceps phenomenon in exotropia under general anaesthesia

Prifinium bromide was administered for eight weeks to three patients with exotropia. Under general anaesthesia active discharges from the lateral rectus muscles were demonstrated by electromyography. When a slight adductive force was applied to the straight or the master eye, active discharge from the lateral rectus of the associate eye disappeared in all patients, and this eye moved in the direction of orthophorisation. The discharge reappeared when the master eye was released from the forced adduction. From these results the authors concluded that proprioception is involved in the magician's forceps phenomenon discovered by Mitsui in exotropic patients in 1978.