Purpose: Age-related divergence insufficiency-esotropia (ARDIE) is characterized by greater esodeviation at distance than near. This study aims to compare the outcomes of unilateral and bilateral surgical approaches.
Patients and methods: Sixty-two cases treated at the Kellogg Eye Center, the University of Michigan, from 1995 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. One surgeon used unilateral procedures including unilateral medial rectus recession (n = 24, group 1) or unilateral recession-resection (n = 18, group 2) with an adjustable suture. Another surgeon used bilateral medial rectus recession with fixed sutures (n = 20, group 3).
Results: For patients with distance esodeviation <15∆, postoperative distance deviations in both group 1 and group 3 were not statistically different (p = .352). For patients with esodeviations 15-20∆, postoperative distance deviations in all 3 groups were also not statistically different (p = .142). Similarly, patients with deviations >20∆ did not show significantly different postoperative distance alignment (p = .082) between group 2 and 3. Overall, group 2 had the highest overall success rate (90%) (mean at distance = 1.17∆ exodeviation, at near = 2.33∆ exodeviation).
Conclusion: Both unilateral medial rectus recession ± lateral rectus resection and bilateral medial rectus recession surgical approaches produced similar favorable outcomes in ARDIE.
Background: Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy (RPON) is a rare disorder with a unilateral headache accompanied by ipsilateral episodes of painful ocular cranial nerve neuropathy, which typically occurs in childhood.
Case report: We report an 8-year-old female with four episodes of RPON involving unilateral third and fourth cranial nerves. Right eye exotropia and complete ptosis were detected on examination. Brain MRI images revealed right third nerve enhancement where it exits from the brainstem. She completely recovered after 5 weeks with the administration of prednisolone and indomethacin.
Discussion and conclusion: Due to the rarity of this condition in children, recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy should be considered as a differential diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral painful ophthalmoplegia, particularly with a history of migrainous headache. Since it is a treatable entity, and repeated attacks may lead to permanent sequela, early intervention is crucial.
The evaluation and management of vertical strabismus is more challenging and nuanced than that of horizontal strabismus. Vertical strabismus often results from a variety of restrictive or paretic causes, which can be further characterized as either acquired or congenital. In some cases, identifying the correct etiology of the strabismus can mean uncovering a potentially life-threatening condition, such as a brain tumor or stroke. The keys to identifying the correct diagnosis are, first and foremost, a careful history, and secondly, a detailed examination. The characteristics, etiologies, and evaluation of vertical strabismus will be reviewed here.
Divergence insufficiency-type ET is a common cause of distance diplopia in elderly adults. A recent prospective multicenter data collection study has provided additional guidance on management. Either base-out prism glasses or strabismus surgery were found to have high success rates, based on patient report of diplopia, and health-related quality-of-life domain scores. It was concluded that either prism or surgery were reasonable initial treatment strategies. Although allocation bias precluded formal comparison of prism versus surgery (evident in baseline differences between groups), there were hints that surgery may yield superior outcomes. For surgery, the most common approach was bilateral medial rectus recession, which was highly successful when assessed 10 weeks and 12 months postoperatively. It was unclear whether adjustable sutures were helpful, but in the vast majority of adjustable cases, additional recession at the time of adjustment was performed, suggesting that larger than standard surgical doses are needed.
Introduction: Fusional potential in patients experiencing binocular torsional diplopia may be challenging for the clinician to assess, particularly when accompanied by vertical and horizontal diplopia.
Objective: To demonstrate a clinical test that may help predict if binocular fusion can be achieved once cyclotorsion is alleviated.
Design: Video recording demonstrating how to perform the white disk test and retrospective chart review of patients tested with the white disk test.
Results: Twelve patients with binocular torsional diplopia were included. All subjects had excyclotorsion, 11 (91.7%) had combined vertical and horizontal strabismus and 1 patient (8.3%) had vertical strabismus. Eleven patients (91.7%) were able to achieve single binocular vision with the white disk test and 1 patient (8.3%) demonstrated brittle fusion. The white disk test successfully predicted postoperative fusion in 10 of 11 patients (90.9%). Eight patients (66.7%) demonstrated improved stereopsis after surgery.
Conclusion: The white disk test was found to be very useful in predicting fusional potential in patients that experience binocular torsional diplopia.
Purpose: To describe the common causes of symptomatic strabismus and treatment required to resolve diplopia in adult patients seen by one orthoptist.
Patients and methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of consecutive adult patients 18 years or older seen by one orthoptist over a 3-year period with a chief complaint of double vision.
Results: Two hundred twenty-four consecutive adult patients were examined by the author. Chief complaint was double vision, followed by blurred vision, monocular diplopia, and eye strain. Past ocular histories were significant for early-childhood strabismus in 23 patients. Amblyopia was identified in five patients. Hypertension was a medical risk factor most associated with symptomatic strabismus. Cranial nerve paresis was the most common cause of the strabismus followed by benign, age-related divergence insufficiency esotropia. Prism was the most common treatment in 53% of patients followed by Bangerter foil occlusion in 44 patients (20%). Strabismus surgery was recommended in 11 patients (5%). Manifest refraction was successful in resolving symptoms of binocular diplopia in nine heterophoric patients (5%). Opaque pirate style occlusion was not used for any patient in this series.
Conclusions: Symptomatic acquired esotropia was a common type of strabismus encountered by the author and trochlear nerve paresis a common cause of symptomatic strabismus in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Press-On™ or ground-in spectacle prism of 12 prism diopters or less resolved diplopia in 124 patients (55%).
Heavy eye syndrome is a condition that results in an acquired, progressive strabismus that is due to extreme myopia and long axial length. The underlying pathogenesis of the condition is due to prolapse of the supero-temporal aspect of the myopic globe causing displacement of the lateral and superior rectus muscles inferiorly and nasally, respectively. Treatments for heavy eye syndrome often target this anatomical defect and seek to re-place the globe within the extraocular muscle cone. This review will discuss current theories of pathogenesis and treatment of heavy eye syndrome.
A search was performed of the literature published in peer-reviewed journals from disciplines related to eye care and rehabilitation between 2000 and 2022. The purpose was to discover new thinking on the topic of the evaluation and management of convergence insufficiency in adults. Ninety-one papers were reviewed and summarized. The etiology, identification, evaluation, and management of convergence insufficiency in this population, as reported in the literature, is presented in this paper. Many publications addressing rehabilitation after traumatic head injury addressed the management of convergence insufficiency. There was consensus in the importance of complete patient examination, to include a complete sensorimotor examination and careful refraction, prior to initiating any therapy. A chronic issue continues in the paucity of large, placebo-controlled studies to provide clear best practice for providers. Additionally, healthcare professionals from eye care and other professions are working with patients who have convergence insufficiency without significant interprofessional collaboration.

