Long Term Follow-up of Extraocular Muscle Surgery for Congenital Esotropia

After the records of 345 patients with congenital esotropia were reviewed, a total of 142 patients with congenital esotropia who underwent muscle surgery were included in our study. The patients' included had alignment within ±10Δ of orthophoria six months postoperatively and followed for a maximum of 10 years. Four years after surgery, 105 patients (74%) remained within ±10Δ of orthophoria, whereas 27 patients (19%) developed consecutive exotropia (>10Δ). Of the 82 patients followed for six years postoperatively, 21 patients (26%) developed consecutive exotropia and only 58 patients (71%) remained orthophoria All of the patients who developed consecutive exotropia were either orthophoric or exotropic (< 10Δ) six months after surgery. Our study suggests that a satisfactory alignment shortly after surgery does not guarantee a long-term alignment and a preferred immediate alignment following initial surgery for congenital esotropia may be within 10Δ of esotropia.