Analysis of Alphabet Patterns of Deviations Found in Patients Without Strabismus in Primary Position

To detect alphabet patterns in a group of patients without strabismus and to determine whether they induced any convergence insufficiency type symptoms.

Data on subjective refraction, distance and near heterophoria, distance and near positive fusional vergence (BO), near point of convergence (NPC), measurements of upgaze and downgaze made 45° above and below the primary position with alternate cover test and a prism bar at a distance of 37.5 cm, were collected from participants of two clinics. Symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Convergence Insufficiency Symptoms Survey (CISS) to determine a symptom score. Association between alphabet patterns and the other variables was analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests.

Out of 122 patients, 14 were found to present an alphabet pattern. Defining a V pattern exophoria ≥15-prism dioptre or ≥10-prism dioptre deviation, three patients (2.5%) and 12 patients (9.8%) were identified, respectively. In addition, one case resembled an X pattern and another a diamond pattern. The refraction, distance and near heterophoria, positive fusional vergence and CISS scores were not significantly different in the participants with V pattern compared to those without V pattern.

Alphabet patterns, especially V type, were demonstrated in approximately 11.5% of a sample of 122 non-strabismus patients. These alphabet patterns were found not to be associated with convergence insufficiency-like symptoms.