Characteristic ocular findings in patients with craniofacial cleft.

PURPOSE: To identify the characteristic ocular findings in patients with craniofacial cleft (CFC).

METHODS

Ophthalmologic examination was performed for a 16-year-old girl with no. 3 CFC and a 3-year-old boy with no. 5 CFC.

RESULTS

Exotropia was found in the 3-year-old boy with no. 5 CFC involving the lateral orbit, and esotropia in the 16-year-old girl with craniofacial cleft no. 3 involving the medial orbit. Hypotropia, lower eyelid coloboma, amblyopia and an absence of stereopsis were common to both patients. Visual acuity was improved from hand motion to 20/30 by means of occlusion therapy for amblyopia in the 3-year-old boy. Strabismus surgery resulted in exophoria of 8 prism diopters (PD) in the 3-year-old boy and left esotropia of 8 PD in the 16-year-old girl.

CONCLUSIONS

Amblyopia, hypotropia, esotropia (no. 3) and exotropia (no. 5) should be verified in cases of CFC nos. 3 and 5. Ophthalmologic examination and early intervention for amblyopia may be mandatory for patients with CFC involving the orbit.