Moderate-angle exotropia: a comparison of unilateral and bilateral rectus muscle recession.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the surgical outcome of unilateral lateral rectus recession and bilateral lateral rectus recession in moderate-angle exotropia (< or = 30 prism diopters [PD]).


METHODS
The charts of all patients with moderate-angle exotropia (30 PD) who were operated on during the years 1993 to 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-nine patients underwent unilateral lateral rectus recession (group 1) and 27 patients underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession (group 2).


RESULTS
Exotropia improved an average of 9.4 +/- 7.1 PD in group 1 and 15.5 +/- 10.6 PD in group 2 (P < .05, independent samples Student's t test). The success rate, defined as deviation of 10 PD or less, was achieved in 69% of patients in group 1 and 74% of patients in group 2 (P = .67, chi-square). No postoperative complications occurred in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar postoperative success rates were achieved with unilateral lateral rectus recession and bilateral lateral rectus recession.
Spierer
Oriel
O
Ophthalmology Department, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel.
Spierer
Abraham
A
Glovinsky
Joseph
J
Ben-Simon
Guy J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005099:Exotropia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005133:Eye Movements; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult