Lateral rectus muscle disinsertion and reattachment to the lateral orbital wall

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Surgical correction of ocular alignment in patients with third cranial nerve paralysis is challenging, as the unopposed lateral rectus muscle often pulls the eye back to exotropia following surgery. The authors present a simple surgical approach to overcome this difficulty. This approach is also applicable to removal of unwanted overactivity of the lateral rectus in Duane syndrome. METHODS: A review was made of the records of four patients with third cranial nerve paralysis and one with Duane syndrome with exotropia in which the lateral rectus muscle was removed from its scleral insertion and reattached to the orbital wall. Additional surgery to bring the eye to the midline included medial rectus resection, medial transposition of the vertical recti, and passive suturing of the eye to the medial orbit wall. RESULTS: All patients achieved satisfactory ocular alignment following surgery. Ocular ductions were limited. These results were stable for 1.5-4 years of follow up. No major complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Lateral rectus muscle disinsertion and reattachment to the orbital wall to absorb its force and thus remove abduction torque was a simple and safe surgical procedure for restoring ocular alignment in four patients with third cranial nerve paralysis and in one patient with Duane syndrome with severe exotropia.     

内直肌眶缘固定术矫治动眼神经麻痹性外斜视

目的：介绍一种新的手术方法,用部分内直肌作为眶缘固定物,矫治动眼神经麻痹引起的外斜视。方法：对三例动眼神经完全麻痹患者,利用部分内直肌作为眼球牵引物,固定于鼻侧眶缘,使第一眼位基本正位。结果：三例患者术后第一眼位基本正位,获得手术美容效果。结论：这一手术方法可以有效地矫正动眼神经麻痹引起的外斜视。     

内直肌超常量后徙和继发性外斜视的关系

目的 研究内直肌超常量后徙与继发性外斜视的关系.方法 对2003～2009年住院的43例内斜术后继发外斜的病人进行回顾性分析,分别观察常规量内直肌后徙(内直肌附着点距角膜缘的距离≤11.5mm)和超常量内直肌后徙(内直肌附着点距角膜缘的距离＞11.5mm)与眼球运动和继发性外斜视的关系.结果 13例眼球内转受限,其中发现内直肌常规量后徙33例中只有3例眼球内转受限,超常量内直肌后徙的10例患者均有眼球运动受限,经x2检验,P＜0.05;对10例内直肌超常量后徙的患者6例行内直肌前徙,术后眼球运动无受限,眼位正位;而经同等手术量内直肌缩短的4例患者中只有1例术后眼球内转轻度受限,但术后眼位正位.另外3例患者术后眼球运动仍明显受限,残留外斜视.39例术中内直肌附着点距角膜缘的距离≤11.5mm,35例(89.7%)术后正位,4例内直肌附着点距角膜缘的距离＞11.5mm,术后只有1例(25%)正位.结论 (1)内直肌超常量后徙可造成术后眼球运动受限,从而导致继发性外斜视.(2)单纯内直肌缩短术后斜视度不稳定,外直肌后徙联合后徙的内直肌前徙是治疗继发性外斜视的有效方式.     

The surgical management of consecutive exotropia.

PURPOSE: To review the results and techniques of surgical treatment of consecutive exotropia. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent surgery for consecutive exotropia in a pediatric ophthalmology practice between 1992 and 2001. Patients were excluded if follow-up lasted < 6 weeks or if exotropia was caused by other ocular disorders such as previous trauma or congenital cataracts. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were identified. The procedure performed in the majority of cases was unilateral lateral rectus recession and medial rectus advancement to the original insertion. Seven patients underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession, and 6 underwent lateral rectus recession combined with medial rectus resection. The mean interval between original surgery and surgery for consecutive exotropia was 14.1 years (range 4 months to 47.5 years). The mean preoperative distance exodeviation was 31.7 prism diopters (PD). Satisfactory alignment (ie, within 10 PD of orthophoria) was achieved in 36 patients (61%) at week 1 and 42 patients (71%) at final follow-up. Mean follow up was 16.0 months. Thirty-nine patients (66%) demonstrated an exodrift after surgery (mean 7.6 PD). CONCLUSION: Consecutive exotropia may occur many years, even decades, after esotropia surgery. Lateral rectus recession with advancement of the previously recessed medial rectus is an effective treatment. An exotropic drift occurs after consecutive exotropia surgery, usually within the first 6 weeks. A suitable ocular alignment immediately after surgery for consecutive exotropia is a small-angle esotropia of 5 to 10 PD.     

Rectus muscle posterior tenon fixation as an inactivation procedure

PURPOSE: To report a surgical technique and the results of rectus muscle posterior Tenon fixation as an inactivation procedure for treatment of Duane syndrome, restrictive strabismus, and long-standing paralytic strabismus, which conventionally require large rectus muscle recession. DESIGN: Prospective, interventional case series. METHODS: Three eyes in three Duane syndrome patients, one eye in one myopic strabismus fixus patient, one eye in one complete third nerve palsy patient, and one eye in complete sixth nerve palsy patient underwent rectus muscle inactivation by disinsertion and posterior Tenon fixation of its insertion. The main outcome measures were the postoperative eye position in all patients, the presence of upshoot or downshoot on adduction, and, in Duane syndrome patients only, the height of the palpebral fissure. RESULTS: In Duane syndrome patients, the upshoot and the downshoot were improved markedly, and the height of the palpebral fissure was increased on adduction after the operation as compared with before the operation; the other patients had improved ocular alignment after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that rectus muscle inactivation by fixation of its insertion to posterior Tenon is an effective and less invasive technique for achieving profound weakening of a rectus muscle compared with periosteal fixation of the rectus muscle.     

继发性外斜视的发病因素及手术治疗

目的 探讨继发性外斜视的发病因素及手术治疗。 方法 对近5年行二次手术的23例继发性外斜视进行回顾分析。 结果23例患者中弱视占43.5％,高度近视占26.1％,无双眼视功能者占82.6％,运动受限者占 56.5％,伴AV征、DVD、眼球震颤、垂直斜视共占73.9％。行单眼或双眼内直肌复位或缩短后复位或联合对侧外直肌退后术后,19例获得正位或水平斜度<10△,垂直斜度<5△。手术成功率82.6％。 结论 继发性外斜视的发病因素包括不正确的手术方式及手术量,弱视,高度远视,无双眼视功能,伴有其他眼肌不平衡。根据肌肉功能状态、视力、原手术量和远近斜视度设计手术方案可取得良好矫正效果。     

Partial third cranial nerve palsy: clinical characteristics and surgical management

PurposeIncomplete recovery from injury to the third cranial nerve results in ocular misalignment and associated diplopia. Our aim in this study was to describe and evaluate strabismus surgery strategies aimed at restoring functional, single binocular vision in this population.DesignRetrospective review.ParticipantsWe studied 12 adult patients with acquired partial third cranial nerve palsy who underwent strabismus surgery.MethodsThe 12 consecutive patients with residual third nerve palsy were selected from among the patients seen between 2000 and 2010 in the clinical practice of 1 strabismologist (M.F.). Complete pre- and postoperative ophthalmologic and orthoptic examinations were performed in each patient. The patients presented with isolated hypotropias (n = 7) and exohypotropias (n = 5). Strabismus surgery included: contralateral superior rectus recession, ipsilateral inferior rectus recession, vertical transposition of horizontal recti, horizontal rectus muscle surgery, or combined horizontal and vertical muscle surgery. Complete surgical success was defined as postoperative alignment within 5 prism diopters (PD) of orthotropia and the absence of diplopia in functional positions of gaze. The average follow-up was 23 months (range, 7 to 81 months).ResultsThe mean preoperative vertical and horizontal deviations were 19 PD hypotropia (8–40 PD) and 19 PD exotropia (6–40 PD), respectively. The mean postoperative deviations were 2 PD hypotropia (0–8 PD) and 1 PD exotropia (0–6 PD). Complete surgical success was achieved in 7 of 12 patients. Partial success was attained in 5 of 12 patients, who experienced significant improvement but required postoperative use of a prism.ConclusionsThis study indicates that patients with incomplete third cranial nerve paralysis may enjoy good functional and cosmetic outcomes with strabismus surgery.     

间歇性外斜视眼外直肌磁共振成像研究

目的：利用磁共振成像（MRI）技术研究间歇性外斜视患者眼外直肌Pulley位置及其形态改变。方法：系列病例研究。收集2017年1-6月在天津市眼科医院确诊为间歇性外斜视的患者32例,平均年龄（15.4±1.8）岁。同时招募健康志愿者30例,平均年龄（16.1±1.6）岁,利用MRI技术对第一眼位眼外直肌行连续冠状扫描。采用线性回归和相关系数计算眼外直肌Pulley位置,独立样本t检验进行2组间比较;同时计算各MRI层面水平肌肉最大横截面积和体积的变化,2组间进行独立样本t检验。结果：间歇性外斜视患者眼外四条直肌Pulley位置与正常对照者相比差异无统计学意义。而间歇性外斜视患者各MRI扫描层面其内直肌横截面积均小于正常对照者,且其内直肌肌肉体积小于正常对照者（t=10.47,P=0.006）。对于外直肌而言,间歇性外斜视患者外直肌肌肉体积略大于正常对照者,但这种差异无统计学意义,但间歇性外斜视患者外直肌/内直肌肌肉体积比率（1.6±0.4）较正常对照者外直肌/内直肌肌肉体积比率（1.1±0.1）大,差异具有统计学意义（t=7.33,P=0.007）。结论：间歇性外斜视的发病与眼外直肌Pulley位置无关,而可能与水平直肌肌肉体积的变化有关,而这种改变可能会在术后继续影响眼位,从而导致斜视矫正术后远期复发率较高。     

继发性外斜视手术方式及术后眼位变化

目的研究内斜视术后继发外斜视的手术方式及术后眼位的变化。方法手术治疗43例内斜视术后继发外斜视的病人,探讨其手术方式并观察术后1周、6周、6个月和1年的眼位变化情况。结果单眼内直肌前徙7例,单眼内直肌缩短4例,单眼内直肌前徙＋单眼外直肌后徙20例,双眼外直肌后徙5例,单眼外直肌后徙3例;4例外斜视度数≥50△行3条肌肉的手术。术后1年35例眼位正位（81.3%）,其中单眼内直肌前徙或缩短11例术后8例（72.7%）正位,外直肌后徙8例（5例为双眼,3例为单眼）术后6例（75%）正位,单眼内直肌前徙＋单眼外直肌后徙20例术后18例（90%）正位;1周～6周斜视度数变化-5.2△±0.4△,6周～6个月变化-1.2△±0.4△,1周～1年变化-6.4△±2.1△。1周～6周有25例患者（58.1%）有外斜视漂移,变化-8.0△±1.4△,其中术中过矫组的10例继发外斜视患者,术后6周内均出现了外斜视漂移,平均为-8.3±2.0△。结论外直肌后徙联合后徙的内直肌前徙是治疗继发性外斜视的有效方式。术中5△～10△小度数过矫可提高远期的术后正位率。     

Surgery for strabismus secondary to ethmoid sinus surgery

PURPOSE: To review the outcome of surgery for strabismus due to ethmoid sinus surgery. CASES AND METHODS: The series comprised 13 cases, 1 of inferior rectus paresis, 1 of superior oblique paresis, 6 of medial rectus paresis, and 5 of medial rectus muscle palsy due to third nerve palsy. In the cases of paresis of the rectus muscle, resection of the rectus muscles was mainly performed. In the cases of palsy of the rectus muscle, transposition of the extraocular muscle with simultaneous recession of the lateral rectus muscle was performed. The major aim of surgery was to bring both eyes into alignment and to eliminate diplopia in the primary position. RESULTS: The mean preoperative horizontal deviation of 18.1 degrees of exotropia in the paresis cases was reduced to 1.4 degrees of exotropia after surgery. The mean preoperative vertical deviation of 3.8 degrees of hypertropia was reduced to 1.4 degrees of hypertropia postoperatively. The mean preoperative horizontal deviation of 35.6 degrees of exotropia in the palsy cases was reduced to 9.4 degrees of exotropia after surgery. The mean preoperative vertical deviation of 2.0 degrees of hypertropia was increased to 2.6 degrees of hypertropia postoperatively. Postoperatively, diplopia was absent in 11 cases with a slightly compensatory head posture. CONCLUSION: Surgery for strabismus due to sinus surgery induces improvements in eye position and diplopia.     

Bupivacaine Injection to Treat Exotropia and Esotropia

Purpose: To report the results of bupivacaine injection into the extraocular muscles to treat horizontal strabismus, both exotropia and esotropia.

Methods: Bupivacaine, 4.5?ml of a 0.50% solution, was injected into the medial rectus muscle in each of 14 exotropic patients and into the lateral rectus muscle in each of 6 esotropic patients with electromyographic control. The measures of alignment were made before the procedure and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after injection.

Results: Of 20 patients, 15 had improved ocular alignment with the average change of 8.46, 8.2, 8.33 and 9 prism diopters (PD) at 1,3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Two of 5 (40%) incomitant strabismus patients and 13 of 15 (86.66%) comitant strabismus patients had improvement in ocular alignment. Eleven of 14 exotropic patient and 4 of 6 esotropic patients had improvement in ocular alignment, averaging 9.73, 9.36, 9.54 and 6 PD in the exotropic group and 5, 5, 5, and 10.5 PD in the esotropic group. There was no serious complication from the injections.

Conclusions: Bupivacaine injection improved ocular alignment in some patients. Denervated extraocular muscle did not respond well to bupivacaine. Bupivacaine improved ocular alignment equally in esotropic and exotropic patients.     

Retrieval of lost medial rectus muscles with a combined ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic surgical approach

PURPOSE: To report retrieval of a medial rectus muscle completely detached from the globe and lost in the orbital tissue in four eyes. METHOD: A lost medial rectus muscle was retrieved in four eyes of four patients with either a transcutaneous medial orbitotomy approach or a transnasal endoscopic ethmoid sinus approach. RESULTS: The lost medial rectus muscle was successfully retrieved in all four patients. One patient lost the medial rectus muscle secondary to trauma, and the other three cases resulted from complications of strabismus surgery. The mean preoperative angle of exotropia was 44 prism diopters. The endoscopic approach was attempted in three patients, and the medial rectus muscle was successfully found in two of these patients. In one case in which the endoscopic approach was used, an image guidance system was used to aid in finding the lost medial rectus muscle. The endoscopic approach was abandoned in one case in which the medial rectus muscle could not be identified after extensive searching, but the muscle was subsequently found by means of the transcutaneous medial orbitotomy approach. A transcutaneous medial orbitotomy alone was used to find the lost medial rectus muscle in one of the cases. The postoperative ocular deviation for primary position at distance fixation was a mean of 24 prism diopters of exotropia. With one additional operation in two patients, the mean ocular deviation was less than 12 prism diopters. CONCLUSION: We successfully retrieved a lost medial rectus muscle in four patients with the use of nontraditional strabismus surgical techniques. We effectively combined techniques taken from both ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology to help solve this difficult problem.     

Rectus muscle orbital wall fixation: a reversible profound weakening procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of third nerve palsy, sensory exotropia and strabismus secondary to anomalous innervation of the rectus muscles, frequently require large rectus muscle recessions in an attempt to maintain alignment in the primary position and reduce the effects of misinnervation. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the results of inactivation of a rectus muscle by its attachment to the adjacent orbital wall. METHODS: Seven subjects diagnosed with third-nerve palsy (three cases), Duane syndrome (two cases), sensory exotropia (one case), and congenital aberrant innervation of vertical rectus muscles (one case) underwent rectus muscle inactivation by orbital wall fixation. The rectus muscle was disinserted from the globe and reattached to the adjacent orbital periosteum using non-absorbable sutures. This surgery was performed on the lateral rectus muscle in six subjects, and surgery was performed on both ipsilateral vertical rectus muscles in one. RESULTS: Postoperatively four of six patients were aligned within 12 prism diopters of orthotropia in primary position. All patients had improvement of the anomalous head posture. In Duane syndrome, lateral rectus inactivation markedly reduced co-contraction and globe retraction. No overcorrections resulted. CONCLUSION: A rectus muscle may be functionally inactivated when its insertion is attached to the orbital periosteum. Advantages of this procedure over extirpation and free tenotomy include permanent disinsertion of the muscle from globe and reversibility.     

Unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection with or without advancement for postoperative consecutive exotropia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection with or without advancement in treating postoperative consecutive exotropia. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review on 31 patients with consecutive exotropia who were treated with unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection (17 patients) or unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle partial resection combined with advancement (14 patients). All patients had exotropia with a less than 10 prism diopters (PD) distance near-disparity. The characteristics studied before surgery included type of esotropia surgery, detection of amblyopia, presence of an "A" or "V" pattern, dissociated vertical deviation, limitation of adduction, deviation angle measurement, and forced duction testing. Ocular alignment and status of adduction postoperatively at the last follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (61.3%) had amblyopia, 17 patients (54.8%) had limitation of adduction, 8 patients (25.8%) had dissociated vertical deviation, and 5 patients (16.1%) had an "A" or "V" pattern. The mean preoperative exodeviation was 47.3 PD. Overall 21 (67.7%) of 31 patients achieved a successful postoperative result (alignment within 10 PD of orthophoria). There was no significant difference in successful alignment in patients treated with unilateral medial rectus muscle resection compared with those treated with unilateral medial rectus muscle partial resection combined with advancement. There was no influence of amblyopia on the result. Twelve (70.6%) of the 17 patients with limited adduction preoperatively showed normalization of adduction postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection with or without advancement is an effective alternative for treating postoperative consecutive exotropia.     

Surgical management of third nerve palsy.

AIMS--A surgical technique has been developed in order to obtain ocular alignment in the primary position in patients with third nerve palsy. METHODS--A method for surgically correcting the vertical deviation and the pseudoptosis is described in three patients with longstanding third nerve palsy. By decreasing the ability of the non-involved eye to elevate, a fixation duress was created which eliminated the secondary deviation that characteristically occurs in such patients when the involved eye fixates. As a result of this technique, both eyes in all patients on attempted fixation were under similar duress, therefore requiring equal amounts of stimulation to move into the primary position. When the fixation duress was sufficient, elimination of the hypotropia and ptosis was achieved. Additionally, in order to correct the exotropia, generous recession and resection procedures in the involved eye and recession of the lateral rectus in the noninvolved eye were performed. RESULTS--Between 8 and 10 prism dioptres of esotropia were achieved and maintained in two patients. One patient had 20 prism dioptres of exotropia. Two patients had no residual ptosis and one required an additional anterior levator resection to achieve a satisfactory result. CONCLUSION--Patients with a third nerve palsy and a pseudoptosis may be candidates for this approach.     

共同性水平斜视的再次手术

目的 探讨共同性水平斜视手术后施行再次斜视手术的临床特点及手术处理的特殊性.方法 共同性水平斜视手术后施行再次斜视手术的55例患者进行了回顾性临床分析,手术前后进行眼位检查、眼球运动,Titmus立体视检查双眼视觉功能.手术方法:手术前做全麻下或局麻下行牵拉试验.手术方式选择原则:依据视近和视远斜视角的不同,眼球运动受限制的受累肌肉和牵拉试验结果选择术式.术后追踪观察1～8年,平均2年.结果 (1)内斜视术后继发外斜视13例中,除即刻过矫3例在手术后48h内施行内直肌探查术外,其余施行原后徙内直肌完全复位或部分复位术,联合外直肌截除.治愈率76.9%.外斜视术后继发内斜视11例,施行原后徙外直肌完全复位或部分复位术,联合内直肌截除.治愈率81.8%.伴有V型斜视和垂直性斜视者联合水平直肌移位或斜肌减弱术.(2)内斜视欠矫15例中,8例施行内直肌边缘切开联合外直肌截除术;选择单纯在同一眼上外直肌截除术2例;伴有斜肌异常患者,则选择对侧眼内直肌后徙联合外直肌截除并下斜肌后徙5例.术后正位率86.7%.外斜视欠矫16例中:6例施行原外直肌后徙眼边缘切开联合内直肌截除术;2例Ⅴ型外斜视联合双下斜肌后徙,4例外直肌周围瘢痕松解术,4例联合调整缝线.术后正位率87.5%.结论 (1)水平斜视过矫伴有受累肌运动障碍,结合看近与看远斜视角的差别,选择内直肌或外直肌复位术.(2)调整术后缝线可将再次斜视手术的非预期结果降低到最小程度.     

Clinical Features and Surgical Treatment of A-pattern Exotropia

IntroductionAnA鄄patternexotropiashowssignificantlymoreexodeviationindowngazeversusupgaze,inwhichthechangeofbinocularalignmentresemblesthealphaberA.Accordingtopublishedreports[1～4],A鄄patternexotropiaisviewedastheleasttypeofAandVpatterns.However,thepr鄄evalenceofA鄄patternexotropiaratherincreasedinourclinicalstudies[5],inwhichparticularattentionwaspaidtoobservethedeviationindownwardgazeandassesssuperiorobliquefunction.Accordingly,clinicalcharacteristics,surgicaltreatmentandtreatmentoutcome…     

A Comparison of Visual Field and Optic Disc Appearance Depending on the Peak Intraocular Pressure in Patients with Normal-tension Glaucoma

Purpose To review the outcome of surgery for strabismus due to ethmoid sinus surgery.Cases and Methods The series comprised 13 cases, 1 of inferior rectus paresis, 1 of superior oblique paresis, 6 of medial rectus paresis, and 5 of medial rectus muscle palsy due to third nerve palsy. In the cases of paresis of the rectus muscle, resection of the rectus muscles was mainly performed. In the cases of palsy of the rectus muscle, transposition of the extraocular muscle with simultaneous recession of the lateral rectus muscle was performed. The major aim of surgery was to bring both eyes into alignment and to eliminate diplopia in the primary position.Results The mean preoperative horizontal deviation of 18.1 degrees of exotropia in the paresis cases was reduced to 1.4 degrees of exotropia after surgery. The mean preoperative vertical deviation of 3.8 degrees of hypertropia was reduced to 1.4 degrees of hypertropia postoperatively. The mean preoperative horizontal deviation of 35.6 degrees of exotropia in the palsy cases was reduced to 9.4 degrees of exotropia after surgery. The mean preoperative vertical deviation of 2.0 degrees of hypertropia was increased to 2.6 degrees of hypertropia postoperatively. Postoperatively, diplopia was absent in 11 cases with a slightly compensatory head posture.Conclusions Surgery for strabismus due to sinus surgery induces improvements in eye position and diplopia. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc 107:425–432, 2003)     

Medial transposition of the lateral rectus muscle in combined third and fourth nerve palsy.

Surgical treatment of combined third and fourth nerve palsy is a challenging problem in strabismology. Five of the 6 extraocular muscles are paralyzed, which leaves the lateral rectus muscle with no antagonist to counteract its activity and usually results in a maximal exotropia. The goal of surgery is to achieve orthophoria in primary position with limited ductions. Because some believe that a conventional recession-resection procedure will inevitably result in a drift back to exotropia,(1) several other methods have been proposed to treat this disorder. These include temporal mattress suture,(2) eye muscle prosthesis, (3,4) splitting and reattaching the lateral rectus muscle near the vortex veins,(5) and fixation of the eye with fascia lata.(6) Taylor(7) suggested using medial transposition of the lateral rectus muscle in a case of isolated third nerve palsy. We report the outcome of a procedure that included such a transposition for the treatment of combined third and fourth nerve palsy.     

Myectomy of lateral rectus muscle for third nerve palsy

PURPOSE: To introduce myectomy of the lateral rectus muscle for correcting exotropia in patients with third nerve palsy. METHODS: The lateral rectus muscle of the paretic eye was myectomized without suturing it to the globe. This was combined with a medial rectus muscle resection and a contralateral lateral rectus muscle recession. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to observe the re-attachment of the lateral rectus muscle to the globe. RESULTS: The patient was able to fuse in the primary position without any noticeable limitation in abduction. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the lateral rectus muscle was attached to the globe through fibrous tissue. CONCLUSION: Myectomy of the lateral rectus muscle is an effective and simple procedure to accomplish a super-maximal weakening effect of abduction in patients with complete third nerve palsy.