Risk factors for excessive postoperative exo-drift after unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection for intermittent exotropia

Abstract

Abstract Background To detect significant factors associated with excessive postoperative exo-drift in young patients with intermittent exotropia who had undergone unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection. Methods We retrospectively examined the records of 64 consecutive patients 20 prism diopters). Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between excessive postoperative exo-drift and age at surgery (P = 0.004), preoperative exo-deviation at distance (P = 0.017) and postoperative initial eso-deviation at distance (P < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that postoperative initial eso-deviation at distance (P = 0.008) was significantly associated with postoperative exo-drift. Conclusions Postoperative exodrift in unilateral RR is predicted by the initial postoperative eso-deviation, which may offset the overcorrection. However, the exo-drift is greater in cases with a large preoperative exo-deviation and/or at a younger age, and should be followed carefully.

Keywords

• Intermittent exotropia
• Postoperative exo-drift
• Recurrent exotropia
• Recession and resection procedure
• Strabismus surgery