Surgical Realignment Reverses Contrast Sensitivity Deficits in Children With Intermittent Exotropia: One-Year Results
Yan Yang1, Jiangtao Lou1, Siyu Tan1
1State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|August 28, 2025
Summary
Children with intermittent exotropia (IXT) have impaired contrast sensitivity function (CSF). Surgical realignment partially improves CSF, suggesting its value in managing pediatric IXT.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Vision Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Intermittent exotropia (IXT) is a common childhood strabismus.
- Visual development, including contrast sensitivity function (CSF), may be affected in children with IXT.
- Understanding CSF development in IXT is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal development of contrast sensitivity function (CSF) in children with intermittent exotropia (IXT) over one year.
- To evaluate the impact of surgical realignment on CSF in pediatric patients with IXT.
- To compare CSF changes between IXT patients undergoing surgery, those under observation, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 45 children with IXT (7-13 years) and 30 healthy controls.
- IXT patients divided into surgery (n=25) and observation (n=20) groups.
- Binocular and monocular CSF, stereoacuity, and sensory fusion assessed at baseline and 1-year follow-up using CSV-1000E.
Main Results:
- Baseline CSF was significantly worse in the IXT surgery group compared to controls.
- After one year, controls and the IXT surgery group showed significant improvements in binocular CSF.
- The IXT observation group showed no significant CSF changes, while controls had the greatest improvement.
Conclusions:
- Contrast sensitivity function (CSF) is significantly impaired in children with intermittent exotropia (IXT).
- Surgical realignment can partially restore CSF in children with IXT, indicating a potential disruption in visual development.
- CSF assessment offers valuable supplementary data for managing pediatric IXT.
