Motor Skill Deficits and Associated Factors in Childhood Intermittent Exotropia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Motor Control

Background:

• Intermittent exotropia (IXT) is a common childhood strabismus.
• While primarily affecting eye alignment, IXT may have broader neurodevelopmental implications.
• Understanding these implications is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate motor skill impairments in children diagnosed with intermittent exotropia (IXT).
• To explore the relationship between specific visual parameters and motor deficits in children with IXT.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study comparing children with IXT to age-matched controls using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2).
• Assessment included Total Motor Score, manual dexterity, aiming and catching, and balance.
• Ophthalmic characteristics such as deviation control, stereoacuity, and suppression were documented in the IXT group.

Main Results:

• Children with IXT exhibited significantly lower Total Motor Scores, with pronounced deficits in manual dexterity and balance compared to controls.
• Aiming and catching scores did not differ significantly between groups.
• Within the IXT cohort, poorer manual dexterity correlated with reduced stereoacuity, and aiming/catching performance was linked to sensory suppression.

Conclusions:

• Childhood IXT is associated with significant motor skill deficits beyond the visual system.
• These motor impairments are connected to underlying sensory adaptations, including stereoacuity and suppression.
• The findings emphasize the importance of assessing and monitoring motor development in children with IXT.