Adjustable sutures in strabismus surgery: a personal series of cases

A personal series of 77 separate primary adjustable suture procedures performed on 69 patients is analysed. Adjustable suture surgery was performed on patients over ten years of age undergoing rectus muscle surgery, and a few selected younger patients. The ages ranged from 7 to 74 years. A 24-month-old infant who had a two-stage-anaesthesia is included in the series. Thirty-eight of the 69 patients were reoperations. Of the 77 primary procedures, 48 (62.3%) required postoperative adjustment; 29 (37.7%) were tied down without adjustment. Sixty-two of the 69 patients (89.8%) achieved a "cure". A further four patients (5.8%) were initially in desired alignment, but deteriorated within the follow-up period. Three of these were successfully reoperated. Of the three primary failures (4.4%) two were reoperated with one achieving orthophoria. Apart from alignment failure in the primary procedure, complications were minimal. Current follow-up periods range from one to 24 months.     

Parks切口眼外肌调整缝线术治疗间歇性外斜视

目的 观察Parks切口眼外肌调整缝线术治疗间歇性外斜视的临床效果.方法 采用Parks结膜切口(近穹隆部结膜切口)联合眼外肌后徙调整缝线术治疗间歇性外斜视37例,术后随访3～8个月.结果 (1)眼位:37例患者中11例术后未达到预期效果、眼位不正,欠矫2例,过矫9例,术后24h内表麻下采用调整缝线术进行眼位调整,11例均将眼位调整至预期效果.最终随访眼位结果:未调整者欠矫2例,分别欠矫-15Δ、-20Δ,过矫15Δ1例.调整眼位者欠矫3例,分别欠矫-12Δ、-15Δ、-25Δ.余31例正位.(2)结膜切口愈合情况:所有患者结膜切口均于术后5～8d完全愈合,睑裂部无明显瘢痕.(3)并发症:5例患者调整缝线结对应的结膜面局部结节状隆起水肿,给予0.1%氟美瞳眼水点眼后消退.未见切口感染、缝穿巩膜、肌肉滑脱等并发症.结论 采用Parks结膜切口眼外肌后徙调整缝线术可于24h内对间歇性外斜视术后眼位不正者进行有效眼位调整,避免了角膜缘梯形结膜切口的缺点.     

Accuracy of suture adjustment in adjustable strabismus surgery evaluated at the initial postoperative examination

PURPOSE: To clarify the efficacy of sliding-noose type adjustable suture strabismus surgery, we evaluated the accuracy of suture adjustment based on data from the initial postoperative examination performed 1-4 weeks after the surgery. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with various types of strabismus participated [age range, 12-79 years; range of far deviation, 4-123 prism diopters (PD)]. Under sub-Tenon anesthesia, a recession (with or without a resection or muscle transposition) was performed with an adjustable suture (Guyton's procedure), and the suture was adjusted 6-24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-six (76%) patients required suture adjustment one to eight times. In 50% and 75% of our patients, the errors from individual target angle were within +/- 0.8 and +/- 2.0 PD, respectively, whereas 2 (6%) patients with esotropia showed an undercorrection larger than 10 PD. The error distribution was almost the same throughout the range of preoperative deviation. CONCLUSION: By using an adjustable suture with a sliding noose, pinpoint alignment of the eyes can be achieved in more than half of the cases, at least in the early postoperative period.     

新鲜羊膜在儿童共同性斜视缝线调整显微手术中的应用

目的：探讨新鲜羊膜在儿童共同性斜视缝线调整显微手术中的应用疗效,为临床治疗提供指导。
　　方法：应用临床随机对照研究方法,依据眼科门诊就诊号将2010-01/2015-10在我科住院并行显微斜视矫正术的60例112眼儿童共同性斜视患者平均分为两组,A组30例58眼行直肌后徙缝线调整联合羊膜移植术, B组30例54眼行单纯直肌后徙缝线调整术,斜视矫正术后随访均≥6 mo。
　　结果：斜视患者27例48眼术后眼位需调整,眼位需调整率为42.9%。术后1mo,眼位可调整18例29眼,其中A组16例26眼,眼位可调整率为44.8%,眼位可调整量平均为2.56±0.64 mm;B 组2例3眼,眼位可调整率为5.6%,眼位可调整量平均为0.52±0.28mm,两组比较眼位可调整率及可调整量差异均有统计学意义(χ2=22.477,P<0.01;t=16.502,P<0.01)。除3例患儿术后不配合眼位调整外,其余均在术后1 mo内行不同程度的眼位调整,眼位调整后, A组27例53眼眼位正位,正位率为91.4%, B 组16例28眼眼位正位,正位率为51.9%,两组比较斜视术后正位率差异有统计学意义(χ2=21.827,P<0.01)。
　　结论：在儿童共同性斜视缝线调整显微手术过程中应用新鲜羊膜效果确切,可明显延长眼位调整时间及增加眼位调整量,提高了儿童斜视手术的可控性和成功率。     

Accuracy of suture adjustment in sliding noose type adjustable strabismus surgery

PURPOSE: To clarify the efficacy of adjustable suture strabismus surgery with sliding noose, we evaluated the accuracy of suture adjustment. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Thirty-four patients with various types of strabismus participated [age range: 12-79 years, range of far deviation: 4-123 prism diopters(PD)]. Under sub-Tenon anesthesia, a recession(with or without an additional resection or a muscle transposition) was performed with an adjustable suture(Guyton's procedure), and the suture was adjusted 6-24 hours after the surgery. Based on the initial postoperative examination performed 1-4 weeks(mean: 2.8 weeks) after the surgery, errors in the far deviation from the individual target were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-six(76%) patients required suture adjustment 1-8 times. In 50% and 75% of our patients, the errors were within +/- 0.8 and +/- 2.0 PD, respectively, whereas 2(6%) patients with esotropia showed an undercorrection larger than 10 PD. Distribution of the errors was the same throughout the range of pre-operative deviation. CONCLUSION: By using the sliding noose type adjustable suture, a pin-point alignment of the eyes can be established in more than 50% of cases, at least, in the early post-operative period.     

Adjustment of sutures 8 hours vs 24 hours after strabismus surgery

PURPOSE: To compare the postoperative results of adjustable-suture strabismus surgery when suture adjustment was performed 8 hours (group 1) and 24 hours (group 2) after surgery. METHODS: A retrospective clinical study was conducted in two hospitals. Strabismus surgery and muscle adjustment were performed in 90 patients. All patients had horizontal strabismus (40 patients had esotropia and 50 patients had exotropia), and they underwent either primary surgery or reoperation. Mean age of the patients was 29.9 +/- 14.1 (range, 14 to 74) years. The angle of deviation was measured in all patients before surgery, after surgery both before and after adjustment, and at the final follow-up examination. The follow-up period was 6 to 40 months (mean, 19.6 months). RESULTS: Preoperative data were similar in the two groups. The mean angle of deviation immediately after muscle adjustment was 0.6 +/- 6. 1 prism diopters in group 1 and 0.4 +/- 6.3 prism diopters in group 2. This similar deviation in the two groups (P =.9) changed during the follow-up period, and at the final examination the measured angles in groups 1 and 2 were -1.0 +/- 7.9 and -2.5 +/- 10.3 prism diopters, respectively (P =.48). The most considerable outcome measure was the calculated drift values. At the last follow-up these values were -1.6 +/- 5.8 for group 1 and -2.9 +/- 11 prism diopters for group 2 (P =.5). Subdividing the patients on the basis of their deviation before surgery, a postoperative drift toward exotropia was found in most patients of group 1. In group 2, however, a greater tendency toward exotropia was shown only by those patients who had displayed exotropia preoperatively, whereas patients with preoperative esotropia showed a greater tendency toward esotropia after surgery. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing horizontal extraocular muscle surgery with adjustable sutures, suture adjustment 8 hours or 24 hours after surgery did not produce significantly different results.     

The short adjustable suture

Objective: To describe a new, adjustable suture technique for strabismus surgery that is safe and effective and allows for adjustment during the postoperative week only when required.Design: Retrospective review.Participants: A total of 304 patients, of which 149 were male and 155 female, with an age range from 4 to 89 years and a median age of 42 years.Methods: All patients treated with the short adjustable suture technique between September 2007 and April 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Details of cause, complexity and reoperation, operative success, requirement for adjustment, and success of adjustment were collected. Success was defined as horizontal deviation ≤ 10 prism diopters (PD) and vertical deviation ≤ 6 PD.Results: Overall, 84% of horizontal deviations and 74% of vertical deviations were treated successfully with 1 operation. Twenty-one adjustments were performed. Complications included 1 slipped slip knot and 6 conjunctival or Tenon cysts.Conclusions: The short adjustable suture is a safe and effective variation of the standard slip-knot adjustable suture technique. It allows for adjustment up to 6 days postoperatively with minimal patient discomfort. When adjustment is not indicated, the suture can be left in place to absorb.     

Effect of full tendon transposition augmented with posterior intermuscular suture for paralytic strabismus

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of the full rectus muscle transposition augmented with a posterior intermuscular suture for paralytic strabismus. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective, interventional case series. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records from November 1994 to September 2004 of 16 patients who underwent the full tendon transposition that was augmented with posterior intermuscular suture for paralytic strabismus. This series evaluated the results of a single transposition surgery; five patients had previous nontransposition strabismus surgery. The following data were analyzed before and after the operation: (1) the angle of deviation in the primary position, (2) the presence of diplopia in the primary position, (3) the binocular single visual fields, (4) the presence of an abnormal head posture, (5) the motility of the affected eye, and (6) the procedure that was performed. RESULTS: The preoperative angle of deviation in the primary position was 59 +/- 22 prism diopter (prism diopter; range, 30 to 115 prism diopter) compared with 17 +/- 12 prism diopter (range, -10 to 40 prism diopter) after the operation. The preoperative binocular single visual fields improved from 0 degrees to 60 +/- 25 degrees (range, 0 to 90 degrees) after the operation. Diplopia in the primary position was resolved in 11 patients (69%) after the operation. There were no complications such as scleral perforation, unwanted vertical deviations, or anterior segment ischemia in any of the cases during the procedure and postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSION: Full tendon transposition that is augmented with a posterior intermuscular suture is an effective procedure that results in improved ocular alignment in patients with paralytic strabismus and has a favorable complication profile.     

Evaluation of single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery under conscious sedation

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility and stability of ocular alignment after single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery (SSASS) performed under topical anesthesia.

Materials and Methods

Forty-five patients of concomitant exodeviations were randomized into three groups of 15 cases each and were operated with three different techniques: Group I - conventional surgery, Group II - two-stage adjustable suture technique with suture adjustment performed 6h postoperatively and Group III- SSASS under topical anesthesia and intravenous conscious sedation with midazolam and fentanyl. Intraoperative suture adjustment was done by giving a cross target to the patient on the ceiling at the end of the procedure. Surgical results were compared among the three groups at three months follow-up. Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and patients'' experience of the surgery (by questionnaire) were also compared.

Results

Mean preoperative deviation for distance in Groups I, II, III was −41.67 prism diopter (pd) ±9.0, −38.93 pd ±11.05 and −41.87 pd ±8.91 (P=0.6) respectively. At three months, mean correction achieved for distance was +31.87 pd ±11.71, +35.47 pd ±10.86 and +42.80 pd ±10.71 respectively which was significantly different between Group III and Group I (P =0.03). Intraoperatively all hemodynamic parameters remained stable and comparable (P=0.5) in all groups. Intraoperative pain (P<0.001) and time taken for surgery (P<0.001) was more in the SSASS group. Amount of exodrift was 10-12 pd, comparable in all three groups (P = 0.5).

Conclusions

SSASS, performed under topical anesthesia, is safe and has better outcomes than conventional recession-resection surgery for concomitant exodeviation. An overcorrection of about 10-12 pd is recommended to check the exodrift and achieve stable alignment.     

直肌后徙可调缝线术在儿童共同性斜视中的应用

目的：观察直肌后徙可调整缝线术治疗儿童共同性斜视的临床效果。方法对34例儿童共同性斜视在全麻下采用直肌后徙调整缝线术治疗,术后1～2 d内进行缝线调整,随访6～24个月,观察手术效果。结果34例儿童共同性斜视患者中,11例达正常眼位,23例因欠矫或过矫需要调整,其中过矫9例及欠矫11例均调至正位,有3例欠矫者经集合训练后得到改善。在6～24个月随访中,未调整的患者中欠矫1例,经过调整的患者中欠矫2例,术后视功能较术前有明显的改善。结论采用可调整缝线治疗儿童共同性斜视是简便而有效的手术方式,可以减少再次手术风险,使儿童全麻斜视矫正手术的成功率获得较大的提高。     

The immediate postoperative adjustment of sutures in strabismus surgery with comaintenance of anesthesia using propofol and midazolam.

PURPOSE: Adjustable suture techniques are used to reduce the reoperation rate in strabismus surgery, but traditionally require that final adjustments be made between 1 to 24 hours after surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new anesthetic technique that would allow immediate postoperative adjustment of sutures in strabismus surgery, thereby improving patient convenience and comfort. METHODS: This was a prospective study of strabismus patients who were judged to be appropriate candidates for adjustable sutures. Comaintenance of anesthesia was accomplished using a stepped-down infusion of propofol with midazolam. Final suture adjustments were performed in the operating room immediately upon completion of strabismus surgery. Patient satisfaction was assessed 24 hours later. Patients were followed for 6 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients were studied, with 8 patients having horizontal muscle surgery, 7 patients with vertical muscle surgery, and 1 patient undergoing both horizontal and vertical muscle surgery. The change in deviation after 6 weeks of follow-up was 8 PD or less horizontally in all patients and 4 PD or less vertically in 87% of patients when compared with the alignment in the operating room. Diplopia, if present, resolved in 85% of patients. One patient (6.7%) required a second surgery. The mean drift at 2 weeks horizontally was 1.87 PD esotropic (range, -6 PD exophoric to 18 PD esotropic) and vertically 0.94 PD (range, -4 PD hypotropic to 4 PD hypertropic). The mean drift at 6 weeks horizontally was -0.27 PD exotropic (range, -8 PD exophoric to 8 PD esotropic) and vertically 0.6 PD (range, -6 PD hypotropic to 10 PD hypertropic). CONCLUSION: The immediate postoperative adjustment of sutures in strabismus surgery may be accurately performed using this new anesthetic technique.     

Adjustable suture strabismus surgery

Surgical management of strabismus remains a challenge because surgical success rates, short-term and long-term, are not ideal. Adjustable suture strabismus surgery has been available for decades as a tool to potentially enhance the surgical outcomes. Intellectually, it seems logical that having a second chance to improve the outcome of a strabismus procedure should increase the overall success rate and reduce the reoperation rate. Yet, adjustable suture surgery has not gained universal acceptance, partly because Level 1 evidence of its advantages is lacking, and partly because the learning curve for accurate decision making during suture adjustment may span a decade or more. In this review we describe the indications, techniques, and published results of adjustable suture surgery. We will discuss the option of 'no adjustment' in cases with satisfactory alignment with emphasis on recent advances allowing for delayed adjustment. The use of adjustable sutures in special circumstances will also be reviewed. Consistently improved outcomes in the adjustable arm of nearly all retrospective studies support the advantage of the adjustable option, and strabismus surgeons are advised to become facile in the application of this approach.     

Outcome of large angle exotropia treated by single stage adjustable strabismus surgery with monitored conscious anesthesia

Purpose:To evaluate the outcomes of large-angle exotropia by single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery (SSASS) under monitored conscious anesthesia.Methods:A prospective study was done in 33 patients above 14 years with ≥40 prism diopters (PD) of exotropia. All patients underwent SSASS under monitored conscious anesthesia (topical anesthesia plus intravenous sedation). For deviations of ≤55 PD, two horizontal rectus muscles, and for >55 PD, three rectus muscles were operated and a decision on adjustment/operating on an additional rectus muscle was taken after assessing the alignment. Monitored conscious anesthesia allowed us to check our results after surgery and plan further surgery/adjustment to achieve the desired alignment.Results:Mean preoperative deviation for distance was 52 ± 11.1 PD. The target alignment was achieved with the initial surgical plan in 10/21 patients with <55 PD exotropia and 4/12 patients with >55 PD exotropia, and one patient in each group needed adjustment. The remaining patients needed additional rectus muscle surgery. One patient with >55 PD exotropia needed both adjustment and additional rectus surgery. The success rate for distance correction was 85% at 6 months and 1 year. The overall success rate was 71% at 6 months. Percentage of patients with binocular single vision improved from 31% preoperatively to 78% by 6 months. Incidence of oculocardiac reflex was 6.1%.Conclusion:SSASS under monitored conscious anesthesia is a viable option for large-angle strabismus correction with good patient comfort and safety.     

Effective small-incision surgery for involutional lower eyelid entropion

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop an effective and minimally invasive operation to correct lower eyelid entropion that would address both the horizontal and vertical laxity. DESIGN: A prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five consecutive patients with involutional entropion, aged 62 to 92 years (mean, 77.1 years), had surgery on 45 lower eyelids. Of the 45 procedures, 33 (73%) had a primary procedure and 12 (27%) were reoperations. INTERVENTION: A lateral tarsal strip with diagonal tightening of the orbital septum and lower lid retractors to the lateral orbital rim was performed via a 1-cm lateral canthal incision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complications and surgical outcome were monitored clinically for between 12 and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: The results were analyzed from 42 eyelids (33 patients) with a mean follow-up of 17.1 months (range 12-24 months). Two patients died and one dropped out of the study 3 months after the second eyelid operation. In 36 cases (86%), the entropion was cured. Transient lateral orbital rim tenderness was noted in six cases (14%), and one patient had a wound infection. Anatomic recurrences were detected in six eyelids of six patients, and five of these (83%) were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: This surgical approach has been found effective in 86% of eyelids. Adequate clinical followup has proven essential for accurate evaluation of entropion surgery.     

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.     

Strabismus surgery outcomes after scleral buckling procedures for retinal reattachment

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the outcomes of strabismus surgery in patients with a prior history of a scleral buckling procedure for retinal reattachment.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 18 patients who underwent strabismus surgery following a scleral buckling procedure and investigated the effect of multiple variables on postoperative alignment after strabismus surgery including gender, age, surgeon, number of strabismus surgeries, adjustable suture use, previous pars plana vitrectomy, preoperative best-corrected visual acuity, and scleral buckle removal. Outcomes were considered successful if there was ≤10 prism diopters (PD) residual horizontal and/or ≤4 PD residual vertical deviations. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney test, and nominal logistic regression.

Results: Success using our criteria of motor alignment was achieved in 6 of 18 eyes (33%). A higher rate of success was found in the scleral buckle removal group (success with buckle removal, 62.5%; success without buckle removal, 10.0%; p?=?0.04). Nominal logistic regression analysis showed scleral buckle removal was the most significant factor associated with successful surgical alignment (p?=?0.03; odds ratio?=?16.67). Although the success rate was higher in the adjustable suture group (50% in adjustable group vs 14.3% in non-adjustable group: Fisher’s exact test, p?=?0.30), this difference was not statistically significant. No retinal redetachments occurred after scleral buckle removal.

Conclusions: These results suggest that scleral buckles can be safely removed in selected patients with strabismus following retinal reattachment surgery and scleral buckle removal may improve ocular alignment following strabismus surgery.     

Three horizontal muscle squint surgery for large angle infantile esotropia

BACKGROUND: To report the long-term outcome of a series of 49 patients who underwent three horizontal muscle squint surgery for large angle infantile esotropia. METHODS; The patient records were retrospectively reviewed of 49 (24 girls [49%], 25 boys) consecutive patients with infantile esotropia of angle > or =60 Delta, who had undergone three horizontal muscle surgery performed by one surgeon (author GG). Surgery consisted of bilateral medial rectus recession combined with graded unilateral lateral rectus resection. Surgeries were carried out over a 6-year period with a mean follow-up period of 32.9 months (3.7-71.8 months). RESULTS: Using Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis, cumulative surgical success (orthotropia +/-10 Delta) was 93.9% at 1 week, 91.8% at 2 and 6 months, 87.7% at 12 and 18 months, 79.9% at 2 years, 77.1% at 3, 4 and 5 years, and 70.6% at 6 years. The mean preoperative deviation was 68.7 Delta. The mean age at surgery was 12.9 months. The failure rate was independent of preoperative deviation. Prevalence of residual esotropia (>10 Delta) varied from 2.0% at 1 week to 17.0% at 6 years. Similarly the prevalence of consecutive exotropia (>10 Delta) varied from 4.0% at 1 week to 12.4% at 6 years. CONCLUSION; Operating in a graded fashion on three horizontal muscles in children with large angle infantile esotropia has a high success rate, even over long-term follow up. Based on the study's results, amounts of surgery for a given angle of strabismus are proposed.     

Corneal topography-guided penetrating keratoplasty and suture adjustment: new approach for astigmatism control

PURPOSE: To describe a new keratoplasty procedure using intraoperative topography to reduce postoperative astigmatism. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five eyes of 150 consecutive patients were enrolled in this prospective study. The most common diagnosis was keratoconus (78.8%). As many as 5.5% had post-laser in situ keratomileusis ectasia. Keratoplasty was performed with the Hanna Corneal Trephine System. A 24-bite running suture was placed, using a specially developed marker. Suture adjustment was performed with the aid of an intraoperative topographer (Keratron Scout; OPTIKON 2000, Rome, Italy). The aim of the adjustment was to obtain an astigmatism < or =2.0 D on the operating table. In case of >3.0 D of astigmatism at 1 month after surgery, suture adjustment was performed using the same intraoperative topographer. RESULTS: At 12 months postoperatevely (suture in), data from 108 (64%) eyes were available. The mean refractive astigmatism was 3.53 D, and the mean topographical astigmatism was 4.7 D. At 18 months (suture out), data from 32 eyes (19.4%) were available, and at 24 months, data from 29 eyes (13.3%) were available. The mean refractive astigmatism was 3.39 D at 18 months and 3.47 D at 24 months. The mean topographic astigmatism was 2.30 D at 18 months and 1.76 D at 24 months. Mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 0.51 at 3 months, 0.63 at 12 months (suture in), 0.67 at 18 months (suture out), and 0.78 at 24 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of intraoperative topography and a 24-bite single running suture resulted in a stable astigmatism throughout the follow-up period, even after suture removal. BSCVA reached a 20/40 level as early as 3 months postoperatively and continued to rise after suture removal. The stability of astigmatism and BSCVA shortened the postoperative visual rehabilitation time and provided a high quality of vision early in the postoperative period.     

Post-operative strabismus control and motor alignment for basic intermittent exotropia

AIM: To assess strabismus control and motor ocular alignment for basic exotropia surgery at 5y follow-up. METHODS: The medical records of 80 consecutive patients aged less than 17 years of age, who underwent surgery for basic exotropia by a single surgeon between years 2000 to 2009 and completed a minimum of 5y follow-up post-operatively were reviewed. Pre- and post-operative characteristics were documented at 1wk, 6mo, 1, 3 and 5y follow-up. Subjects at 5-year follow-up were assigned to the success group if they had a post-operative angle of deviation within 10 prism diopters of exotropia or within 5 prism diopters of esotropia for distance on prism cover test, and had moderate to good strabismus control. The remaining subjects were assigned to the failure group. RESULTS: Post-operative surgical success at one week was 75%, which decreased to 41% at 5y follow-up. The success group was noted to have more patching pre-operatively (P=0.003). The duration of patching a day (P=0.020) and total duration of patching pre-operatively (P=0.030) was higher in the success group. Surgical success at 1y (P=0.004) and 3y (P=0.002) were associated with higher surgical success at 5y follow-up. CONCLUSION: Post-operative motor alignment and strabismus control for basic exotropia surgery at 1y and beyond is associated with higher exotropia surgery success at 5-year follow-up. There is an association between pre-operative patching and 5-year surgical success of basic intermittent exotropia surgery.     

Surgical correction of large-angle exotropia in adults

AIM: A retrospective and longitudinal review of the outcome of strabismus surgery for adults with large- and very-large-angle manifest exodeviations, using two-, three- and four muscle horizontal recti surgery with adjustable sutures. METHODS: A total of 26 consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for socially noticeable strabismus comprising five primary, 16 consecutive, and five secondary constant exotropias with a mean near deviation of 58 prism dioptres and a mean distance deviation of 55Delta were evaluated preoperatively and at various time intervals postoperatively. Surgery involved two muscles in seven cases, three muscles in 13 cases, and four muscles in six cases; and 25 of 26 had adjustable sutures. There was a horizontal preoperative ocular movement deficit in 17 that was asymmetrical in four cases. RESULTS: Binocularity was restored in eight patients (31%), 20 (77%) were within 10Delta of orthotropia, and 24 (92%) were happy with their cosmesis. Two had symptomatic asymmetrical ocular motility deficits postoperatively following a two-muscle procedure and one required reoperation. A total of 19 patients undergoing three- or four-muscle surgery were asymptomatic postoperatively. A total of 22 patients had follow-up of 8 months or more. CONCLUSION: In adults with large-angle manifest exodeviations, adjustable suture surgery involving three or more horizontal recti successfully restores primary position alignment, a high degree of patient satisfaction, and can be expected to be associated with a low incidence of symptomatic postoperative asymmetrical ocular movement deficits.