Purpose: To study the correlation between the outcome of the early postoperative period and the long-term outcome after surgery for partially accommodative esotropia.
Methods: The medical records of total 85 patients with partially accommodative esotropia, who underwent bilateral medial rectus muscle recession, and were followed-up at least 6 months, were retrospectively reviewed. The results were analyzed at 1 month, and 1 and 4 years after surgery.
Results: Of the 85 patients, 67 (78.8%) revealed postoperative deviation of less than 10 PD, 11 (12.9%) and 7 (8.2%) esotropia and exotropia more than 11 PD, respectively, 1 month after surgery. At l year postoperatively, 59 (77.6%), 8 (10:50%0) and 9 (11.8%) showed acceptable deviation, undercorrection, and overcorrection, respectively. 4 years after surgery, 26 (81.2%) and 3 (9.4%) each showed acceptable deviation, undercorrection, and overcorrection, respectively. The results showed a tendency to become exotropic, during the 4 years after surgery.
Conclusions: In partially accommodative esotropia, it is essential that orthotropia or minimal esotropia-should be present in the early postoperative period in order to obtain a good binocular alignment as the long term result. It is recommended that overcorrection be avoided in early postoperative exotropia.