The Effects of Binocular Visual Function Training after Concomitant Exotropia Surgery

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the effect and long-term efficacy of binocular visual function training after concomitant exotropia surgery.

Methods

A total of 92 patients who underwent concomitant exotropia surgery were randomly divided into group A (the training group) (n = 54), who received binocular four-dimensional (4D) visual function training after surgery, and group B (control group) (n = 38). The patients in group A received personalized 4D visual function training 2 weeks after surgery and were followed up for 12 months. The eye position, distant and near stereo acuity, respectively, and postoperative efficacy were compared with those of the patients in group B.

Results

The normal eye position rate in group A was higher than in group B at the end of the overall follow-up period (p < .05), and the near stereo acuity rate was higher than the distant stereo acuity rate in both groups A and B at 2 weeks after surgery and at the end of follow up. The distant and near stereo acuity rates of the patients in group A were higher than those in group B (p < .05) at the end of the follow-up period, and the distant stereo acuity of group A was significantly improved (p < .05). The functional complete and incomplete response rates of group A were significantly higher than those of group B at the end of the follow-up period (p < .05).

Conclusions

Four-dimensional visual function training for patients after concomitant exotropia surgery could facilitate the recovery of postoperative binocular visual function, as well as prevent the recurrence of exotropia after surgery.

Keywords:

• Concomitant exotropia
• surgery
• visual function
• stereo acuity
• eye position

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the hard and dedicated work of all the staff that implemented the intervention and evaluation components of the study.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. Further enquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission Sustainable Development Project (KCXFZ20211020163814021); Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen (SZSM201812090); and Shenzhen Fund for Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialties (No. SZGSP014).