Superior oblique tuck: evaluation of surgical outcomes

A New Classification of Superior Oblique Palsy Based on Congenital Variations in the Tendon

To compare the surgical outcomes in patients who had a failed botulinum toxin A injection before surgery versus those who had surgery as primary treatment (primary surgery) for infantile esotropia. The files of patients who had strabismus surgery in the Strabismus Unit of Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital between January 2012 and March 2022 were reviewed. This study included 104 eyes of 52 patients with infantile esotropia. The angle of deviation before and 1, 3, and 6 months after botulinum toxin A injection or surgery, complications, pattern deviations, family history, abnormal head position, history of prematurity, intensive care unit admission, and consanguineous marriage were noted. A successful outcome was defined as ocular alignment of 10 prism diopters (PD) or less. The study population consisted of 52 patients: 27 (52%) boys and 25 (48%) girls. In the botulinum toxin A group (n = 26), the mean age at admission was 14.0 ± 6.8 months, whereas the mean preoperative near and far angle of deviation were 41.92 ± 12.2 and 41.3 ± 13.0 PD, respectively. The mean age at the time of surgery was 40.6 ± 18.1 months. In the primary surgery group (n = 26), the mean age at admission was 34.0 ± 15.9 months. The mean preoperative near and far angle of deviation were 37.3 ± 8.0 and 35.3 ± 10.5 PD, respectively. The mean age at the time of surgery was 48.1 ± 18.5 months. The success rates 6 months after treatment in the botulinum toxin A group and the primary surgery group were 76.9% and 88.5% in near (P > .05) and 80.8% and 88.5% in far (P > .05), respectively. Three patients had transient ptosis and one had consecutive exotropia after botulinum toxin A injection. In infantile esotropia treatment, strabismus surgery after failed botulinum toxin A injection compared to primary surgery has statistically comparable surgical success rates. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(4):245-251.].

The combined superior oblique tendon tuck and inferior oblique recession is the method of choice for the treatment of congenital and acquired superior oblique muscle palsies with large vertical and cyclodeviations. An additional transposition of the insertions is indicated if the vertical deviation differs greatly from the excyclodeviation. 38 patients who underwent combined oblique muscle surgery for congenital superior oblique muscle palsy were divided into 3 groups. Group A: 14 patients with small excyclodeviations in spite of large vertical deviations, even after diagnostic occlusion of 3 days. A superior oblique tendon tuck of 5 or 6 mm with transposition of the new insertion to the posterior margin of the original insertion was performed combined with a recession of the inferior oblique muscle of 5 or 6 mm with anterior displacement of 4-6 mm. Group B: 15 patients without a discrepancy between the vertical deviation and the cyclodeviation. They were treated with a conventional superior oblique tendon tuck of 5 or 6 mm combined with a recession of the inferior oblique muscle. Group C: 9 patients without a discrepancy between the vertical deviation and the cyclodeviation, but deviations smaller than in group B. A conventional superior oblique tendon tuck of 6 mm combined with a posterior tenotomy of the inferior oblique muscle was performed. The surgical effect was calculated as the difference between the preoperative deviation after diagnostic occlusion of 3 days and the postoperative deviations (1 week and 3 to 6 months). All angles of deviation were measured subjectively after dissociation of the binocular vision with a dark red filter in front of the fixating, not affected eye at 2.5 m distance using the Harms tangent screen. 3 months postoperatively, the vertical deviation was diminished in primary position by 12.1 degrees/6.8 degrees/6.8 degrees in groups A/B/C, in 25 degrees adduction of the affected eye by 18.4 degrees/13.8 degrees/9.5 degrees. The reduction of the cyclodeviation in primary position was 6.4 degrees/8.0 degrees/5.6 degrees. As a side effect a clinically insignificant, consecutive Brown syndrome occurred in each group. In each group a significant positive correlation between the preoperative deviation and the surgical effect was found. The combined superior oblique tendon tuck and inferior oblique recession with transposition of the insertions is a suitable method for a selective treatment of the vertical deviation and the cyclodeviation in congenital superior oblique palsy.

The Course of Intermittent Exotropia in a Population-Based Cohort

The included studies provide insufficient evidence to inform decisions about treatments specifically for eye movement disorders that occur following acquired brain injury. No information was obtained on the cost of treatment or measures of participant satisfaction relating to treatment options and effectiveness. It was possible to describe the outcome of treatment in each trial and ascertain the occurrence of adverse events.

To evaluate the efficacy of treating Knapp class II superior oblique muscle palsy with 7-mm nasal transposition of the ipsilateral inferior rectus muscle combined with recession of the contralateral inferior rectus muscle when the primary position hypertropia is 10 prism diopters (PD) or less. A retrospective review of 8 consecutive patients with superior oblique muscle paresis who had nasal transposition of the inferior rectus muscle in the paretic eye and recession of the inferior rectus muscle in the nonparetic eye. Ocular motility, including objective and subjective torsion, were evaluated before and after surgery. The mean (SD) preoperative hypertropia was 5 PD (1.5) and 13.1 (3.6) PD in the primary position and downgaze, respectively. After surgery the mean (SD) hypertropia was 1.25 (1.0) and 3.25 (1.3) PD in the primary position and downgaze, respectively. The mean (SD) subjective excyclotropia decreased from 6.6 degrees (1.3 degrees) preoperatively to 0.5 degrees (0.9 degrees) after surgery, and there was a mean (SD) objective decrease in the excyclotorsion of the paretic eye by 7.8 degrees (1.4 degrees). All patients were diplopic before surgery and asymptomatic after surgery. Treatment with 7-mm nasal transposition of the ipsilateral inferior rectus muscle combined with recession of the contralateral inferior rectus muscle can effectively treat Knapp class II superior oblique muscle palsy when the primary position hypertropia is 10 PD or less.

Measurement of the Angle of Exodeviation With Polarized Glasses in Intermittent Exotropia

Purpose To report on an improved botulinum toxin injection with conjunctival microincision for beginners, and to determine the effectiveness of botulinum toxin A (BTXA) in the treatment of patients with acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE). Methods Medical records of 29 AACE patients were retrospectively analyzed. BTXA was injected into the unilateral or bilateral medial rectus muscle with conjunctival microincision without electromyographic guidance. Success was defined as total horizontal deviation ≤10 prism diopters (PD) and evidence of binocular vision. Results Twenty-nine patients were included, of whom 22 were male and 7 were female. The mean age at onset was 14.2 ± 7.4 (range, 4–34) years. The mean time from onset of AACE to injection was 18.4 ± 20.3 (range, 1–96) weeks. All patients completed at least 6 months of follow-up, and the mean follow-up after BTXA injection was 12.3 ± 4.8 months (range, 7–24 months). Neurological evaluation and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were unremarkable in all patients. The mean spherical equivalent refraction was −1.22 ± 2.85D and −0.97 ± 2.80D in the right and left eyes, respectively. Mean preinjective esotropia was 38.4 ± 18.9 PD (range, +10–+80 PD) at near and 40.2 ± 17.7 PD (range, +20–+80 PD) at far distance. The mean angle of deviation at 6 months after injection was 0.6 ± 4.1 PD (range, −3–+15 PD) at near and 3.0 ± 5.9 PD (range, 0–+20 PD) at far distance. There was significant difference in the angle of deviation at near and far fixation between pre-BTXA and post-BTXA 6 months (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, resp.). There was no significant difference in the angle of deviation at near and far fixation between post-BTXA 6 months and post-BTXA at final follow-up (p = 0.259 and 0.326, resp.). Mean stereoacuity improved from 338 to 88 arc seconds. During the follow-up period, 5 of 29 patients had recurrent esotropia. Two patients refused all further treatment, and the other 3 patients required incisional strabismus surgery. The success rates were 86.2% (25/29) at 6 months and 82.8% (24/29) at final follow-up. Conclusion Conjunctival microincision injection of botulinum toxin is a practical and safe method for beginners to locate an extraocular muscle, which is as effective as the traditional methods. Botulinum toxin injection can be preferred as the first-line treatment for AACE patients with potential binocular vision.

Purpose:To evaluate the correlation between the angle of deviation in different gazes and the amount of head tilt in patients with congenital unilateral superior oblique muscle palsy (SOP).Methods:This case series study was performed on 20 consecutive SOP patients with head tilt. Based on the Bielschowsky three-step test, the angle of deviation was measured in different gazes. Furthermore, the hypertropia difference between the two lateral gazes (gaze difference) and the two head tilt sides (bilateral head tilt difference) was calculated. For measuring head tilt, close-up pictures from 40 cm with a habitual abnormal head position were captured and analyzed by the Corel Draw X7 software.Results:The mean age of patients was 13 ± 9 years (range, 2.5–31 years). The mean angle of hypertropia in ipsilateral and contralateral head tilt was 24.5 Δ ± 7.1 Δ and 6.5 Δ ± 4.2 Δ, respectively (P < 0.001), and in ipsilateral and contralateral lateral gaze positions, it was 8.2 Δ ± 5.5 Δ and 22.5 Δ ± 6.1 Δ, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean of bilateral head tilt hypertropia difference was 18 Δ ± 5.3 Δ and gaze hypertropia difference was 14.3 Δ ± 6.16 Δ. There was a positive correlation between bilateral head tilt hypertropia difference and the amount of head tilt (R = 0.609, R2 = 0.371, P = 0.004, the amount of head tilt = 0.39 × [Bilateral head tilt hypertropia difference] +1.77). The amount of head tilt also had a positive correlation with the gaze hypertropia difference (R = 0.492, R2 = 0.242, P = 0.028, the amount of head tilt = 0.27 × [gaze hypertropia difference] +4.81).Conclusion:In SOP patients, the amount of head tilt had a positive correlation with bilateral head tilt hypertropia difference and also gaze hypertropia difference.

Introduction: Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is a rare type of esotropia for which until now the main treatment modalities prescribed are prism glasses, botulinum toxin injection and surgery. The purpose of our study is to compare the surgical outcomes in patients with AACE managed with and without pre-operative prism adaptation test (PAT). Methods: We have done a prospective, interventional study for the duration of one year. Forty patients with AACE were randomly divided into two groups by computerized randomization – those undergoing surgery after pre- operative PAT and those undergoing surgery without it. In control group (Group C), patients underwent surgery based on the angle of deviation at distance measured by prism bar cover test (PBCT) and wearing full cycloplegic correction, while in test group (Group T), patients underwent surgery based on the preoperative prism-adapted angle at distance wearing prism power determined by PBCT and wearing full cycloplegic correction. The primary outcome was post-operative deviation and secondary outcome was stereopsis. Post-operatively, patients were followed up at week 1, week 4 and final follow-up was done at week 12. Results: The mean age of the 40 patients was 13.95 ± 5.36 years. The age of the youngest and the oldest patients enrolled were 8 years and 35 years, respectively. The mean SD (standard deviation) of the PBCT for distance (measured in prism diopters – PD), PBCT for near (measured in prism diopters – PD) and stereopsis for near (measured in seconds of arc using Titmus Fly Test) at last follow-up visit (week 12) in the test versus control group were as follows: 1.70 ± 1.42 PD versus 4.75 ± 3.39 PD, 2.55 ± 1.82 PD versus 6.95 ± 3.35 PD and 74.90 ± 53.47 sec of arc versus 48.60 ± 31.97 sec of arc, respectively, which were statistically significant (p = <0.01, p = <0.01 and p = .03, respectively). The change in visual acuity and spherical equivalent in each group was insignificant. Discussion: Surgical outcomes in patients of AACE are better when surgical planning is done after performing pre-operative PAT as opposed to when surgery is planned without PAT. Better motor alignment (less under correction and over correction) and better sensory results in terms of improvement in stereopsis were observed. We recommend the use of pre-operative PAT in surgical planning in patients of AACE.

BackgroundWe aimed to determine the impact of the preoperative prism adaptation test (PAT) on surgical outcomes in patients with primary exotropia.MethodsThirty‐eight consecutive patients with primary exotropia were enrolled. Pre‐operative PAT was performed in 18 randomly selected patients (Group 1). Surgery was based on the angle of deviation at distance measured after PAT. The remaining 20 patients in whom PAT was not performed comprised Group 2. Surgery was based on the angle of deviation at distance in these patients. Surgical success was defined as ocular alignment within eight prism dioptres (PD) of orthophoria.ResultsSatisfactory motor alignment (± 8 PD) was achieved in 16 Group 1 patients (88.9 per cent) and 16 Group 2 patients (80 per cent) one year after surgery (p = 0.6; chi‐square test). There were no statistically significant differences in demographic parameters, pre‐operative and post‐operative angle of deviation between the two groups (p > 0.05; Mann‐Whitney U and chi‐square tests). Nine patients in Group 1 (50 per cent) and two patients in Group 2 (10 per cent) had increased binocular vision one year post‐operatively. A statistically significant difference was determined in terms of change in binocular single vision between the two groups (p = 0.01; chi‐square test).ConclusionAlthough the prism adaptation test did not lead to a significant increment in motor success, it may be helpful in achieving a more favourable functional surgical outcome in patients with primary exotropia.

The natural history of infantile esotropia during the first six months of life

Traumatic rupture of the inferior rectus muscle: clinical presentation and surgical management

Purpose Ocular motility disturbances following retinal detachment surgery are well documented, resulting in ocular misalignment and disabling diplopia. Interestingly, there has been a downward trend over the last decade across the United Kingdom with the evolution of refined vitrectomy techniques and instrumentation. We aim to report our updated experience on factors influencing botulinum toxin outcomes in view of the trend toward vitrectomy. Methods The Moorfields strabismus service carried out a follow-up retrospective study of all subjects that received botulinum toxin for retinal surgery-related strabismus at our center over an eleven-year period. All new onset constant or intermittent strabismus following retinal detachment surgery were included. Botulinum toxin response was stratified to good and poor. Results 32 patients fulfilled our criteria, with a mean follow-up of 20 months. The majority were vitrectomised eyes (62%), presented with diplopia (60%) and exotropia (66%). All isolated and combined vertical deviations (18%) were noted among cryobuckled eyes only. Baseline largest mean horizontal deviation was 49 and 51 prism diopters (PD) among the good and poor responders, respectively. A statistically and clinically significant reduction in the horizontal angle of deviation was noted among the good (p < .0001) responders, requiring a mean of six injections, in comparison to the poor responders (p = .03). Of the good responders, five patients (16%) with decompensated phorias regained fusion control. A small number of complications (15%) were noted, the most marked being intractable diplopia in a good responder (3%) with failure to fuse. Conclusions Botulinum toxin is a useful treatment modality, particularly when surgical options are limited. It can restore binocularity in patients with preexisting fusion potential. Ocular cosmesis can be achieved but requires ongoing injections. Barriers to fusion restoration include multiple retinal surgeries, persistent macula pathology and central-peripheral retinal rivalry. This highlights the need for rigorous baseline macula assessment to allow a tailored approach when considering botulinum toxin therapy for strabismus.

We present an audit of the clinical characteristics and strabismus surgery outcomes for Acute Acquired Commitant Esotropia (AACE) cases managed by our paediatric ophthalmology team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary,...