[How useful is the prescription of glasses in intermittent exotropia and decompensating exophoria?].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of full correction of the retinoscopic measurements done in cycloplegia in two groups of patients with intermittent exotropia (IE) and decompensating exophoria (DE), respectively.


METHODS
58 patients (n = 29 each of IE and DE) fulfilled the inclusion criteria: retinoscopy in cycloplegia, follow-up of at least 6 weeks, age more than 2.5 years and reliable visual acuity. Exclusion criteria were all forms of secondary and constant exotropia, A-V incomitance of high amount and eyes with amblyopia (visual acuity in far distance < 0.5). The age median of refractometry was not higher in patients with IE compared to those with DE: 7.4 (3.10; 47.8) vs. 7.3 (3.8; 40.11) years, p = 0.33. Glasses were prescribed in any case of myopia and astigmatism as well as in hyperopia of > + 0.5 dpt.


RESULTS
Mean refraction of both eyes (mean value of spherical equivalent of both eyes) was higher for IE compared to DE: 0.7 +/- 1.8 (- 5.13; + 4.75) vs. 0.1 +/- 1.7 (- 5.25; + 2.5) dpt, p = 0.9. Visual acuity improved in both groups significantly: median of visual acuity in IE: 0.9 (0.3; 1.25) vs. 1.1 (0.5; 1.25), p = 0.02; in DE: 1.0 (0.4: 1.25) vs. 1.0 (0.6; 1.25), p = 0.03. Considering only patients aged over 7 years the difference stayed significant only in the group of DE: IE: median 1.0 (0.5; 1.25) to 1.0 (0.5; 1.25), p = 0.2; DE: median 1.0 (0.8; 1.25 to 1.0 (0.8; 1.25): visual acuity was nearly always 1.0 and better, p = 0.009. In hyperopic patients a significant improvement of visual acuity could be seen: in IE from median 0.9 (0.3; 1.25) to 1.1 (0.5; 1.25), p = 0.02 , in DE visual acuity: median 1.0 (0.4; 1.25) to 1.1 (0.6: 1.25), p = 0.02, as well as stereoacuity improved significantly: median 60 (30; 240)'' vs. 60 (15; 240)'', p = 0.03. In patients aged over 7 years the improvement was no longer significant in IE: p = 0.7, but stayed significant in DE: p = 0.03. There was no significant change of the angle deviation in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the results of this study, full correction of refractive errors in IE and DE leads to an improvement of the visual acuity mainly due to correction of myopia and astigmatism, but not to a better compensation of the angle deviation.
Gusek-Schneider
G-C
GC
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen. gabriele.gusek-schneider@augen.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Kulzer
J
J
Boss
A
A
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004948:Esotropia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005099:Exotropia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D042262:Retinoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome