title: Fusion exercises for treatment of intermittent exotropia and phoria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fusion exercises have been used in the management of intermittent exotropia (X(T)) for over one hundred years. The opinions regarding their efficacy are controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dynamics of binocular status were investigated retrospectively in ninety-six patients with X(T). Forty-eight subjects had specific orthoptic treatment (treatment group). Forty-eight had no orthoptic treatment (control group). Both groups were matched for age, sex, and race. The orthoptic treatment consisted of a cat stereogram, home-based fusion exercises, which patients were asked to perform twice daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment group showed significant enhancement of binocular function, particularly control of strabismus and stereoacuity for distance. The control group showed further deterioration of binocular functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest patients with X(T) objectively improve their binocular function after fusion exercises.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pejic
authors.forename: Winston
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Rahat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Husain
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farzavandi