Binocular discrepancy in lateral rectus muscle attachment in intermittent exotropia with eye dominance

To determine whether there is asymmetry in the lateral rectus (LR) muscle attachment between both eyes in patients with intermittent exotropia (IXT) with a non-dominant eye, but without amblyopia or anisometropia.

In total, 109 patients who underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession for IXT were included, 81 with and 28 without eye dominance. The limbus-insertion distance and tendon width of the LR muscle were measured intraoperatively using callipers. The insertion-equator distance (presumed arc of contact), area of contact (arc of contact × tendon width), and torque value (radius of globe × arc of contact) of the LR muscle were calculated based on intraoperative measurements and axial length measured using a partial interferometer. Parameters regarding LR muscle attachment were compared between fellow eyes and between groups.

Mean measurements in all parameters related to LR muscle attachments other than tendon width were not different between the two eyes or between groups. The mean tendon width of the non-dominant eye was 9.2 ± 0.7 mm, narrower than the 9.4 ± 0.5 mm width in either eye of patients without dominance (p = 0.020). However, there was no difference in all parameters in 21 pairs of patients after matching. The proportion of patients who showed binocular discrepancies in attachment measurements beyond that attributable to potential measuring errors did not differ between the two groups.

Structural parameters related to LR muscle attachments did not differ based on eye dominance, suggesting that the anatomic structure of LR muscle attachments is not responsible for eye dominance in IXT.