J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2003 Jul;44(7):1572-1577.

The Natural Course in Children with Intermittent Exotropia

• Jung MS
• Choi MY

Abstract

PURPOSE
Although intermittent exotropia is the most common strabismus of children in Korea, no previous studies have documented the natural course of intermittent exotropia. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the natural course of intermittent exotropia in Korean children. METHODS: Sixty-two children with intermittent exotropia at the Department of Ophthalmology Chungbuk National University Hospital were selected for this study. Children who were operated or followed up during less than 2 years were excluded. We compared their angle of deviation at near and far measured by alternative prism cover test at the first and the last examination. RESULTS: The mean age was 5.1 (1.0-14.5) years at the first examination, and 8.6 (4.0-19.0) years at the last examination. At the first examination, the mean angle of deviation was 22.2 PD at near, and 24.4 PD at far. At the last examination, the angles at near and far were 27.0 PD and 27.1 PD. There was statistically significant increase of the angle at near (p<0.05). Increase of near angle was more frequent than that of far angle (30.6:14.5%). In 19 children who had increase of over 10 PD in angle of deviation at near, the difference between at near and far at the first examination was greater than other 43 children (6.9:0.1 PD, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that intermittent exotropia in children may show increase of near angle over the time, especially in the cases with markedly larger far angle than near angle at the initial examination.

Keyword

Children; Difference of angle; Exotropia; Korean; Natural course

MeSH Terms

Child*
Chungcheongbuk-do
Exotropia*
Humans
Korea
Ophthalmology
Strabismus