Trends and patterns in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus surgeries: a decade review from a leading Portuguese university hospital

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Strabismus and Pediatrics Ophthalmology surgeries are pivotal in addressing early-onset visual disorders. An 11-year retrospective study at a tertiary hospital center aimed to elucidate evolving surgical trends, focusing on esotropia cases.

Methods

The surgical records from January 2009 to January 2020 were analyzed according to the baseline diagnosis. Esotropia cases were evaluated based on the patients’ deviation types, surgical techniques, and pre-operative characteristics. A total of 2050 surgeries were performed over the study period.

Results

Strabismus surgery accounts for 70% of the department’s surgical activity. A trend toward a decrease in esotropia surgeries and a proportional increase in exotropia surgeries was noticeable. Esotropia cases, with a median surgical age of 6 years (p25-p75, 4–10) and uniform gender distribution (females, 54.8%), predominantly involved high angular deviations. Posterior fixation sutures emerged as the preferred surgical technique for esotropia.

Conclusion

The study’s insights, while aligning with prior European research, introduce new dimensions to the understanding of strabismus surgeries, emphasizing the significance of early interventions, evolving surgical preferences, and the challenges posed by severe deviations.

KEYWORDS:

• Esotropia
• Exotropia
• Posterior fixation sutures
• Strabismus
• Surgery

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

PFC designed the study and collected the data. PFC, AM, and FFR analyzed and interpreted the patient data. PFC has prepared the manuscript. FFR and AM substantively revised it. All authors approved the submitted version.

Data availability statement

Raw data for datasets are not publicly available to preserve individuals’ privacy under the European (and Portuguese) General Data Protection Regulation but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.