Amniotic band syndrome and strabismus.

Three patients with various manifestations of the amniotic band syndrome associated with strabismus are presented and discussed. All three cases demonstrate a paralytic strabismus due to a unilateral paresis-paralysis of the medial rectus in one case and of the superior rectus in another. The third case showed a bilateral lateral rectus paralysis. In two cases, the strabismus was accompanied by other ocular manifestations, while in one patient strabismus and amblyopia were the sole ophthalmological findings. In two of the cases, a direct association between the mesodermal bands and the strabismus could be established, while in one case this association might have been incidental. Careful ophthalmological followup and treatment of these cases prevented needless loss of vision while appropriate muscle surgery restored acceptable cosmetic appearance in one case.