The surgical overcorrection of intermittent exotropia

Abstract

Many strabismus surgeons recommend an initial surgical overcorrection for intermittent exotropia. Others caution against overcorrection because of possible nasal suppression and amblyopia in children, or because of possible diplopia in adults. We reviewed the records of 69 patients who were initially overcorrected following surgery for an intermittent exotropia. The mean postoperative follow-up was 3.1 years. Eight patients (11.6%) had a persistent overcorrection of 3 prism diopters or more and three patients (4.3%) had persistent diplopia. Patients with a persistent overcorrection had a greater mean age (P less than .02) and a greater mean initial overcorrection (P less than .005) compared with the patients who were not overcorrected 3 delta or more. No child lost stereoacuity or developed amblyopia due to the overcorrection.