Lateral rectus muscle recession and the vertical palpebral fissure height: to do or not to do inter-muscular septum dissection?

In this study, we aimed to evaluate changes of vertical palpebral fissure height （VPFH） after unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession. Twenty-five and twenty-six patients who were candidates for lateral rectus muscle recession were assigned into “with” and “without” intermuscular septum dissection study arms. The VPFH was measured at one-day before surgery and in two weeks and three months, postoperatively. Three months after surgery, significant increase of VPFH was observed in both groups （Paired t-test; P=0.005）. Also, less widening of VPFH was observed in “with intermuscular septum dissection” group （Change in VPFH in “with intermuscular septum dissection” vs “without intermuscular septum dissection” groups： 0.48 mm vs 1.34 mm; ANCOVA test; P〈0.001）. However, such results were not observed two weeks post-operatively （Change in VPFH in “with intermuscular septum dissection” vs “without intermuscular septum dissection” groups： -0.28 mm vs 0.28 mm; ANCOVA test; P=0.302）. Intermuscular septum dissection is recommended in lateral rectus muscle recession to partially prevent the undesirable increment of VPFH.

Relation between preoperative hyperopia and surgical outcome in infantile esotropia

AIM: To evaluate the relation between preoperative hyperopia and surgical outcomes of infantile esotropia in patients younger than 24 months of age.METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent bilateral medial rectus muscle recession for infantile esotropia between November 1, 2002 and December 1, 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the degree of preoperative hyperopia. Group I had less than +3.0 diopter(D) of hyperopia and group II had between +3.0 and +5.0 D of hyperopia. Postoperative alignments were evaluated 1 wk, 3, 6 mo, and 1 y after surgery. Following the 1-year postoperative visit, patients were monitored yearly. Relationships between preoperative factors including hyperopia and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were included, with 33 patients in group I and 13 patients in group II. The preoperative mean refractive error was +0.88 D in group I and +3.45 D in group II. Surgical outcomes were not significantly different between groups at any postoperative time point examined. Cumulative probability of surgical success, prevalence of inferior oblique overaction, dissociated vertical deviation, and re-operation rate were not significantly different between groups.CONCLUSION: Preoperative moderate hyperopia(less than +5.0 D) did not affect the surgical outcome of infantile esotropia. Therefore, the surgical correction of esotropia should be considered when the angle of esodeviation is unchanged following hyperopia correction, even in children with moderate hyperopia.

Surgical Treatment of a Patient with See-Saw Nystagmus (SSN): Case Report

Background: Acquired See-saw Nystagmus (SSN) is a rare form of nystagmus characterized by elevation and intorsion of one eye with synchronous depression and intorsion of the contralateral eye in the first half cycle, followed by a reversal in the direction of the movements during the next half cycle. We herein report a case of a 47-year-old woman with a 3-year history of constant diplopia as a consequence of multiple neurosurgical interventions due to hemorrhage from a cavernous angioma located in the subthalamic region. She also had a history of major depressive disorder and ulcerative colitis. The patient underwent a surgical intervention with a 5 mm bilateral recession of the superior and inferior rectus muscles. Five years after surgery, the patient reported less recurrent and prominent episodes of transient horizontal deviation with horizontal diplopia, with a prevalence of well-being and comfort.