Ocular features and accommodative components in patients with spontaneous consecutive exotropia

Abstract PURPOSE: To investigate the ophthalmological characteristics and accommodative components of cases with spontaneous consecutive exotropia (SCXT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: After retrospectively scanning medical records, patients with SCXT (group, n = 11) and those with no exotropia (control group, n = 22) were enrolled. The data detailed ophthalmic examination results, accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio (AC/A), amplitude of accommodation, fusional vergence, and near point of convergence (NPC) obtained were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Remote NPC was observed in three patients in the SCXT group (27.2%) but not in the control group ( P = 0.03). The stereopsis rate was higher in the control group than in the SCXT group ( P = 0.018). AC/A ratios were significantly lower in the SCXT group ( P ≤ 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the mean amplitude of accommodation or fusional vergence measurements. CONCLUSION: Binocular vision deficiency was observed in patients with SCXT. The AC/A ratios were higher in the control group. The mean period of spontaneous conversion to exotropia was 6.40 ± 3.50 years after hyperopia correction; therefore, the long-term follow-up is needed.