The Effect of Wearing the Full Cycloplegic Correction On the Angle of Deviation in Comitant Exotropia

Purpose: To study the effect of wearing the full cycloplegic correction (FCC) on the angle of deviation in children with comitant exotropia. Patients and Methods: A retrospective noncomparative chart review of children with comitant exotropia in whom the FCC had been worn for at least 3 months. The FCC was obtained by retinoscopy after instilling atropine eyedrops for 7 days. The angle of deviation for far vision, measured after 3 months of wearing the FCC was compared to the angle before. Data was analysed using IBM-SPSS version 20. Results: One hundred and four children (55 females and 49 males) aged 0 to 15 years were included. The mean age was 6.2 ± 4.6 years. The mean age of onset was 1.7± 2.4 years with 54.8% occurring in the first year of life. The most common refractive error was hyperopic astigmatism (82/208 eyes; 39.4%). The angle of deviation for far was decreased in 30.8% (n=32) of cases. It increased in 33.6% (n=35) and remained unchanged in 35.6% (n=37) of cases. Orthophoria was seen in 7 cases (4.9%). Conclusion: The FCC improved exotropia in a third of patients and a very small proportion of patients became orthotropic. Wearing the FCC should be recommended as the first step in the management of all strabismus, including exotropia.