Success of Motor Alignment in Exotropia Treated with Botulinum Toxin versus Surgery

Abstract

We compared the ocular motor alignment of patients with exodeviations after surgery or botulinum A toxin injection. Ocular motility measurements were compared at time intervals of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the last treatment. Phorias, intermittent tropias, and tropias were considered equivalent for analysis. The proportion of the original deviation corrected by botulinum A toxin and surgery was comparable at all time intervals but the surgical results tended to remain more stable with time. These results cannot be explained by unusually poor surgical outcome or by a select population chosen for botulinum toxin injection. It appears that botulinum toxin is effective in reducing exodeviations when viewed within the context of currently available treatment modalities.

• Botulinum toxin
• exotropia
• strabismus surgery