The effects of rectus muscle surgery for intermittent exotropia on ocular surface temperature.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether the blood supply associated with the rectus muscles may influence corneal and conjunctival temperature by comparing the changes in ocular surface temperature, estimated by infrared thermography, before and after strabismus surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study included 38 eyes of 19 patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession. Body temperature, noninvasive tear breakup time, corneal temperature, and nasal and temporal conjunctival temperature were measured at baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: No significant change was observed in body temperature, noninvasive tear breakup time, and corneal temperature over time. Conjunctival temperatures were analyzed separately for the nasal (non-operated site) and temporal (operated site) conjunctiva. While a significant time effect was observed (p = 0.04), neither the conjunctival site nor the time × site interaction showed statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ocular surface temperature is not significantly affected by hemodynamic changes resulting from lateral rectus muscle recession.