Surgery for Esotropia in Young Adults

Abstract

Esotropia presenting in the young adult population has not been previously well studied. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 64 patients ages 10–21 years old who underwent surgery for esotropia. Seven categories of esotropia were identified in this age group. No single category had a preponderance of patients. Twenty-five per cent had nonaccommodative esotropia and 22% had decompensated accommodative esotropia. Other categories included infantile esotropia, abducens nerve palsy, sensory esotropia, Duane syndrome, and consecutive or residual esotropia following strabismus surgery. Six months following surgical treatment, motor and sensory function improved in many patients. Seventy-eight per cent of patients had satisfactory alignment and 12% acquired high levels of stereo acuity. Of those patients followed for at least 6 months, 9% remained under treatment for persistent diplopia following surgery.

• Esotropia
• adolescents
• young adults
• infantile esotropia
• reoperation
• decompensated accommodative esotropia
• sixth cranial nerve palsy