Outcomes of bilateral lateral rectus recession in treatment of recurrent exotropia after bilateral medial rectus resection.

Purpose: To report the results of bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession for recurrent exotropia in cases where the primary surgery was a bilateral medial rectus resection.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of 15 subjects who completed 6 months of follow-up. Data collected included patients' demographics and pre- and post-operative measurements of ocular alignment and motility. Surgical nomogram used was the same nomogram we use for primary cases of exotropia.

Results: At 6-month follow-up, 73.3% of cases had a successful surgical outcome (defined as 8 PD of esotropia to 10 PD of exotropia). In addition, recession of lateral rectus muscles against the previously resected medial recti did not result in a significant increase in the limitation of abduction.

Conclusion: Bilateral lateral rectus recession using standard surgical tables is a safe and effective method for treating recurrent exotropia following bilateral medial rectus resection. Even large primary resections up to 12 mm do not seem to affect the results of bilateral lateral rectus recession.