Infantile exotropia in healthy children
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S E Rubin1, L B Nelson, R S Wagner
1Department of Ophthalmology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 11042.
Insights
Constant exotropia in infants is rare but manageable. Surgical intervention, specifically bilateral lateral rectus muscle recessions, proved effective in most cases, with low reoperation rates.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Strabismus Surgery
Background:
- Constant exotropia is a rare condition in infants under one year of age.
- Infantile esotropia is a more common condition with similar clinical presentations.
Observation:
- This study retrospectively analyzed 13 infants with large, constant exotropia requiring surgical correction.
- All patients underwent bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession surgery.
Findings:
- The surgical approach was successful in the majority of cases, with only two patients needing reoperation.
- The clinical characteristics and management strategies for infantile constant exotropia mirror those of infantile esotropia.
Implications:
- Bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession is an effective surgical treatment for early-onset constant exotropia.
- The findings suggest a potential similarity in the underlying mechanisms or management pathways between infantile exotropia and esotropia.
Abstract:
Constant exotropia is uncommon during the first year of life. We retrospectively identified 13 patients with large, constant exotropia during the first year of life which required surgery. Bilateral lateral rectus muscle recessions were done in all 13 cases. Only two patients have required reoperation. The clinical characteristics and management of this unusual condition are similar to those of infantile esotropia.