Clinical effect of strabismus correction combined with visual training on children with intermittent exotropia

This retrospective study investigates the clinical effect of strabismus correction combined with visual training in the treatment of children with intermittent exotropia. A total of 160 children with intermittent exotropia in the Affiliated Xuzhou Children's Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University from January 2022 to December 2023 were included. Eighty cases in group A were treated with strabismus correction, and 80 cases in group B were treated with combined visual training on the basis of group A. Perceptual eye displacement, visual function, quality of life, and eye position were compared before and after treatment. Posttreatment, group B showed significantly lower horizontal (P < .001) and vertical (P < .001) eye position deviations compared to group A. The recovery levels of fusion function (50/44, χ² = 0.928, P = .035), simultaneous vision function (54/55, χ² = 0.029, P = .005), and stereopsis function (52/40, χ² = 1.032, P = .010) in group B were higher than those in group A (P < .05). The physical function of SF-36 was higher in group B (62.25 ± 3.64) than in group A (56.78 ± 3.06) (t = 5.849, P < .001). Physical role function in SF-36 was higher in group B than in group A (t = 17.661, P < .001). Body pain in SF-36 was higher in group B than in group A (t = 2.116, P < .001). Mental health in SF-36 was higher in group B than in group A (t = 5.849, P < .001). The vitality of SF-36 in group B (65.21 ± 3.56) was higher than that in group A (61.19 ± 5.75) (t = 2.991, P = .003). SF-36 social function comparison, in group B points higher than that of group A (t = 3.596, P < .001); emotional role function of SF-36 was higher in group B than in group A (t = 2.951, P = .004). Mental health in SF-36 was higher in group B than in group A (t = 2.808, P = .006). Combining strabismus correction with visual training in children with intermittent exotropia significantly improves visual function, reduces eye deviation, and enhances quality of life.