Recurrence of Intermittent Exotropia after Bilateral Lateral Rectus Recession

The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictive factors for intermittent exotropia (XT) recurrence after bilateral lateral rectus (BLR) recession.

This is a retrospective chart review of patients with XT who underwent BLR recession surgery between January 2007 and March 2017 with at least one postsurgical follow-up. Forty-one medical records were reviewed. Information collected included age, gender, systemic diseases, history of prematurity, family history of eye diseases, visual acuity, refraction, ocular alignment and control, stereoacuity, slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, and amount of BLR recession. Successful alignment was defined as ≤8 prism diopters of esotropia or exotropia postoperatively.

The mean age of patients at the time of surgery and follow-up time was 9.2 ± 12.3 years (y) and 23.6 ± 36.5 months (m), respectively. The mean amount of BLR recession was 6.5 ± 1.0 mm. Recurrence rate was 43.9% on the last follow-up. Age at surgery and at the time of last follow-up were significantly higher in the recurring group (P = 0.04 and P = 0.05, respectively). Postoperative angle of misalignment during the first 3 months was correlated with exotropia recurrence. No statistical significance was found among the remaining factors studied.

The recurrence rate of XT in our study was 43.9%; it was increased in patients operated at older age and amid those with significant exotropia detected in the early postoperative period (within 3 months of surgery).