Surgery Resolves Diplopia, Deviation in Acute Comitant Esotropia

Surgery is an effective method of alleviating deviation and diplopia in patients with acute comitant esotropia, according to a study published in Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología.

Researchers retrospectively analyzed data from 15 participants (60% women and girls; mean age, 29.07 years) who underwent surgery for acute comitant esotropia after a mean symptom time of 23.3 months. Distant and near horizontal deviation and spherical equivalent were measured and patients reported time spent using digital devices. Stereopsis recovery indicated a positive sensorial outcome and a good motor outcome was defined as a horizontal deviation of  less than 10 prism diopters at the end of follow-up. 

Preoperative horizontal deviation was 19.73±7.2 dp for near vision and 22.93±7.3 dp for distance vision, which decreased to 3.33±3.8 dp and 3.86±3.9 dp, respectively (P <.001). A total of 93.33% of surgical cases achieved good motor outcomes, 46.66% achieved good sensory outcomes, and diplopia resolved in all cases.  

“[W]e consider that extraocular muscle surgery adapted to the angle of deviation is an excellent treatment to resolve diplopia and deviation in patients with comitant acquired esotropia,” according to the researchers. “The motor results were better than the sensory results.”

Study limitations include a retrospective nature and small sample size.