Factors affecting sensory functions after successful postoperative ocular alignment of acquired esotropia.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the sensory status of patients with acquired esotropia who were able to re-establish stable alignment by optical correction and surgery and to determine the possible predictors of the different sensory outcomes.

METHODS

Thirty-four successfully aligned esotropic patients were included in the study. Preoperative evaluation comprised history taking, measurement of visual acuity, evaluation of the sensory status (using the Worth 4-Dot test, and the Titmus Stereo test), measurement of ocular deviation, cycloplegic refraction, and fundus examination. All patients underwent successful surgical alignment to within 10 prism diopters (Delta) of orthotropia. At each postoperative follow-up visit, the sensory functions and ocular alignment were assessed. Statistical analysis of the results was performed.

RESULTS

Among the 34 patients included in the study, 62% achieved fusion, 17% had diplopia, 15% had suppression, and 6% had a variable response to the Worth 4-Dot test at 6 months after surgery. Stereopsis was achieved in 32% as determined by the Titmus Stereo test. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between the sensory status and the duration of strabismus (P=.00002), the age at surgery (P=.00289), and postoperative ocular alignment (P=.02211).

CONCLUSION

Early surgical and optical ocular alignment of strabismic patients is advisable to achieve fusion and stereopsis.