[A comparison of master eye operation with slave eye operation on patients with large-angle exotropia].

Objective: To search for an excellent therapy for patients with large-angle exotropia.

Methods: Strabotomy was performed on the master eyes in the 41 cases (master eye group) and slave eyes in the other 41 cases (slave eye group) with large-angle exotropia (>/= 60(Delta)). The post-operative visual acuity, ocular position, visual function and fixation, the average surgical amount and the frequency of strabotomy were statistically compared between the two groups.

Results: Post-operatively, orthophoria occurred in 39 cases and mild exotropia remained in 2 cases in each group. The statistic analyses showed that the surgical results were better in the master eye group in the visual acuity (P < 0.05), visual function (P < 0.05), average surgical amount and frequency (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: The surgical results of strabotomy performed on the master eye in cases with large-angle exotropia are better than that on the slave eye, and the surgical damage in the master eye is less. Thus, the master eye strabotomy is especially suitable for children with large-angle exotropia under general anesthesia.