Consecutive Exotropia

Gary Page, DOBA
Dr H Ryan, FRACO
Chris Prior, DOBA
Dr J O’Day, FRACO

From a retrospective study of the records of one hundred and seventy four patients who underwent surgical correction of esotropia, nineteen were found to develop consecutive exotropia. A study of these patients was undertaken to identify characteristics common to patients with consecutive exotropia.
A lack of any significant differences between the consecutive exotropia and the non-divergent groups pre-operatively suggested that consecutive exotropia is difficult to predict. Post-operatively the only differences found were a higher percentage of patients in the divergent group with “V” patterns and with two or more lines of amblyopia. No associated inferior oblique over action or superior rectus under action was found to explain the higher percentage of “V” patterns in the divergent group.
No patients became divergent within six months post-operatively. Divergence occurred from 0.50 to 25 years post-operatively, with a mean of 5.0 years.