Risk of Anterior Segment Ischemia Following Simultaneous Three Rectus Muscle Surgery: Results from a Single Tertiary...

The aim of the study was to determine the risk of anterior segment ischemia (ASI) after simultaneous three rectus muscle surgery.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted. All patients who underwent simultaneous three rectus muscle surgery from January 2003 to December 2014 were included. Medical records were reviewed for signs of acute ASI in the postoperative period or presence of any late sequelae. Those patients who had pre-existing corneal pathology obscuring visualisation of anterior chamber and iris were excluded.

A total of 87 patients (54 males and 33 females) were included in the analysis. The mean age at the time of surgery was 22.5 ± 12.9 years (range 3.5 to 69.5 years). The common indications for surgery were monocular elevation deficit, sensory strabismus and third and sixth cranial nerve palsies. Mild form of ASI was seen in two patients, with no systemic or local illness, aged 30 and 9 years respectively. Both the patients underwent surgery on two vertical rectus muscle and one horizontal rectus muscle via the fornix approach. ASI resolved with topical steroids within two weeks in both the patients.

The risk of anterior segment ischemia after uncomplicated simultaneous three rectus muscle surgery was found to be 2.3% (95% CI = 0.3 to 8.1). It may occur in otherwise healthy young patients and even after fornix approach surgery.