Stereopsis outcome in refractive accommodative esotropia successfully aligned by full hypermetropic correction

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Strabismus Research

Background:

• Refractive accommodative esotropia (RAET) is a common form of strabismus in children.
• Successful alignment with full hypermetropic correction is crucial for visual development.
• Stereopsis, or 3D vision, is a key indicator of binocular visual function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing stereopsis outcomes in children with RAET treated with full hypermetropic correction.
• To compare stereopsis results based on age at onset, duration of misalignment, and final ocular alignment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 171 patients diagnosed with RAET.
• Patients were categorized into three groups based on stereopsis outcomes: fine (≤60 arc seconds), coarse (>60 to ≤3000 arc seconds), and nil.
• Factors analyzed included age at onset, initial visit, first glasses use, duration of misalignment, and cycloplegic refraction.

Main Results:

• Earlier age at onset, initial visit, and first glasses use were significantly associated with better stereopsis outcomes.
• Patients with onset at ≤1 year had significantly worse stereopsis outcomes compared to those with later onset.
• A shorter duration of misalignment (≤4 months) was linked to improved stereopsis in children with onset ≤2 years.

Conclusions:

• Age at onset is the most critical factor determining stereopsis outcomes in RAET.
• Intervention before one year of age is associated with the poorest stereopsis, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and treatment.
• Timely management of refractive accommodative esotropia is essential for optimizing binocular vision and stereopsis.