Distance stereo acuity improvement in intermittent exotropic patients following strabismus surgery

To determine whether distance stereo acuity improved following strabismus surgery in patients with intermittent exotropia, we tested 20 patients (5 to 87 years old) preoperatively and postoperatively using the Mentor BVAT II Video acuity tester (Santa Barbara, Calif) and binocular visual system. Acuity improved in 75% as assessed by contour circles and in 45% as assessed by random dot E tests at distance. Our results suggest that surgical realignment of intermittent exotropia restores distance stereo acuity. We conclude that measuring distance stereo acuity offers valuable information in the evaluation of the intermittent exotropic patient.