Everyday Consequences of Childhood Intermittent Exotropia.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Medicine
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Intermittent exotropia (IXT) is a common childhood strabismus.
• The impact of IXT on various developmental domains beyond visual acuity is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of intermittent exotropia (IXT) on eye-related quality of life (ERQOL), reading speed, motor skills, and self-perception in children.
• To compare these outcomes with age-matched controls.
• To analyze associations between IXT control and behavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-one children with IXT (4-13 years) were evaluated using the triple office control score.
• Behavioral assessments included ERQOL (PedEyeQ), reading speed (Readalyzer), motor skills (MABC-2), and self-perception (SPPC).
• Results were compared to 353 age-matched controls.

Main Results:

• Children with IXT reported significantly lower ERQOL across all domains compared to controls.
• Reading speed was comparable between groups.
• Impaired manual dexterity and aiming/catching skills were observed in older children with IXT, alongside lower self-perception in multiple domains.

Conclusions:

• Intermittent exotropia negatively affects children's quality of life, motor skills, and self-perception.
• The findings underscore the broad developmental consequences of IXT, extending beyond visual impairments.
• Early intervention may be crucial for mitigating these broader impacts.