Intermittent exotropia: comparative surgical results of lateral recti-recession and monocular recess-resect.

PURPOSE: To compare the results between recession of the lateral recti and monocular recess-resect procedure for the correction of the basic type of intermittent exotropia. METHODS: 115 patients with intermittent exotropia were submitted to surgery. The patients were divided into 4 groups, according to the magnitude of preoperative deviation and the surgical procedure was subsequently performed. Well compensated orthophoria or exo-or esophoria were considered surgical success, with minimum of 1 year follow-up after the operation. RESULTS: Success was obtained in 69% of the patients submitted to recession of the lateral recti, and in 77% submitted to monocular recess-resect. In the groups with deviations between 12 PD and 25 PD, surgical success was observed in 74% of the patients submitted to recession of the lateral recti and in 78% of the patients submitted to monocular recess-resect. (p=0.564). In the group with deviations between 26 PD and 35 PD, surgical success was observed in 65% out of the patients submitted to recession of the lateral recti and in 75% of the patients submitted to monocular recess-resect. (p=0.266). CONCLUSION: Recession of lateral recti and monocular recess-resect were equally effective in correcting basic type intermittent exotropia according to its preoperative deviation in primary position.