Treatment of intermittent exotropia in children using a lateral rectus fenestration technique.

Purpose: To report the results of bilateral fenestration of the lateral rectus muscle in cases of intermittent exotropia in pediatric patients.

Methods: Children <12 years of age with basic and pseudo-divergence excess type intermittent exotropia who underwent bilateral lateral rectus muscle fenestration were prospectively enrolled in this study. Success was defined as postoperative alignment within 8 of orthotropia in the primary position at the last follow-up.

Results: A total of 36 children were included. The mean preoperative angle of deviation at distance improved from 33.1 ± 3.8 (range, 25-40) preoperatively to 4.5 ± 5.7 (range, 0-16) postoperatively (P < 0.001). The near angle was reduced from 32.0 ± 4.2 (range, 25-35) to 2.8 ± 4.5 (range, 0-14 ) postoperatively (P < 0.001). Successful outcome was achieved in 81% of the cases at the 6-month follow-up. There were no reported intra- or postoperative complications.

Conclusions: In our study cohort, bilateral fenestration of the lateral rectus muscle resulted in successful outcomes in the majority of patients, resulting in a significant reduction in angle of deviation in primary position at both distance and near fixation.