Binocular function after surgical alignment of infantile esotropia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Strabismus Research

Background:

• Infantile esotropia is a common form of strabismus in children.
• Early surgical intervention is often recommended, but optimal timing remains debated.
• Understanding the impact of surgical timing on visual outcomes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of surgical timing on final alignment and sensory outcomes in infantile esotropia.
• To compare outcomes in patients operated on before versus after 36 months of age.
• To assess the development of binocularity in relation to surgical age.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 50 patients with infantile esotropia.
• Random selection and evaluation of final alignment and sensory results.
• Comparison of postoperative alignment and binocularity based on age at surgery ( 36 months).

Main Results:

• No significant difference in postoperative alignment was observed between age groups.
• Patients operated on and aligned after 36 months showed a lower percentage of binocularity.
• Evidence of binocularity was limited, often present in only one sensory test.

Conclusions:

• Surgical timing does not appear to affect the final eye alignment in infantile esotropia.
• Delayed surgery (after 36 months) may negatively impact the development of binocularity.
• Further research is needed to optimize surgical timing for sensory outcomes.