Long-term surgical outcomes of basic-type exotropia in patients with hyperopia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Strabismus Surgery
• Pediatric Ophthalmology

Background:

• Basic-type exotropia is a common form of outward eye deviation.
• Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a refractive error that can influence strabismus.
• Understanding surgical outcomes in relation to refractive error is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare surgical outcomes for basic-type exotropia in patients with and without hyperopia.
• To evaluate the impact of hyperopia on the success rate and sensory results of exotropia surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records for patients with basic-type exotropia and ≥2 years follow-up.
• Exclusion of patients with myopia (nearsightedness) and spherical equivalent (SE) < -1.0 diopters (D).
• Classification into Group H (SE ≥ +1.0 D) and Group E (-1.0 ≤ SE < +1.0 D); comparison of surgical success and stereoacuity.

Main Results:

• 75 patients included; 21 in Group H and 54 in Group E.
• Higher surgical success rates observed in Group H (hyperopic) compared to Group E at final examination (52.4% vs 27.7%).
• Recurrence rates were lower in Group H (47.6%) versus Group E (70.4%); sensory outcomes were comparable.

Conclusions:

• Surgical correction of basic-type intermittent exotropia yields superior outcomes in patients with hyperopia.
• Hyperopia may be a positive prognostic factor for surgical success in basic-type exotropia.
• Further research can explore the mechanisms behind improved outcomes in hyperopic individuals.