Comparison of surgical options for basic intermittent exotropia
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

This study compared the outcomes of three surgical options from one surgeon, to treat basic intermittent exotropia. Surgeries included bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLR), unilateral lateral / medial rectus recession / resection (RR), and unilateral lateral rectus recession and medial rectus plication (RP). The study included 123 patients: 54 BLR, 41 RR and 28 RP. Mean age (standard deviation) for groups were 4.64 (3.35) BLR, 5.54 (4.23) RR and 5 (3.4) RP. Mean (and standard deviation) preoperative distant angle of deviation (measured in prism dioptres) was 25.07 (7.35), 22.44 (5.95) and 23.84 (6.42) respectively. Mean postoperative angle of deviation was 6.31 (6.84), 4.17 (4.50) and 6.70 (6.03) respectively. There were no significant different between groups for ages and these measurements. Postoperatively at 12 months follow-up, mean angle of deviation was 8.72 (7.89), 7.46 (6.31) and 12.83 (6.82) respectively with a significant difference for the RP group but not the BLR or RR groups. There was no significant difference between groups for numbers over corrected or needing reoperation. This was a retrospective study and warrants larger studies with multiple surgeons to determine long-term surgical outcomes of these surgical options.

Outcomes for intermittent exotropia using three common surgical approaches.
Vadhul R, Rogers JD, Rogers DL.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2024;61(4):287–90.