The authors sought to investigate the effect of surgical correction of strabismus on dynamic balance and postural stability. They recruited 27 children (15 female, 12 male) of which 17 were esotropia and 10 exotropia (including eight intermittent types), aged 7–12 years (mean 9.67 ±1.62). Mean preoperative esotropia was 30.18 ±9.58PD at near fixation and 25.35 ±10.35PD at distance, reducing to 5.41 ±4.4PD at near and 2.59 ±3.37PD at distance, postoperatively. Mean preoperative exotropia was 22.6 ±8.04PD at near fixation and 31.5 ±7.47PD at distance, reducing to 1.40 ±2.67PD at near and 2.60 ±3.53PD at distance, postoperatively. Eleven had positive stereoacuity and 16 had none. Eight intermittent exotropia types deteriorated to constant angles, thereby requiring surgery. Postoperatively, sensory organisation test visual ratio percentage improved significantly. Adaptation test toes up and toes down had significant improvement. Rhythmic eight shift test directional control (forward-backward) was significantly higher. Overall improvements indicate that dynamic balance is not solely related to presence of stereoacuity. The authors acknowledge this is a pilot study and further large-scale longitudinal studies are required to confirm influence of strabismus and surgical correction on dynamic balance and postural control.
Improvements in balance and postural control after strabismus surgery
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
The effect of strabismus surgery on the dynamic balance in children with strabismus.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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