Effect of Bilateral Lateral Rectus Recession in Intermittent Exotropia according to the Limbus Insertion Distance

Purpose: The aim of this work was the evaluation of the effect of the limbus insertion distance (LID) of the lateral rectus on the surgical results of bilateral lateral rectus recession in intermittent exotropia (IXT) in children and adults. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 76 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: group I (age 5 - 13 y), group II (>13 y). All the patients had basic type of intermittent exotropia (IXT) and all of them underwent bilateral lateral recessions according to the preoperative angle of deviation. Intraoperatively, the distance of limbus insertion was measured by surgical calipers. The dose response effect was calculated as the difference between the preoperative angle and postoperative angle divided by total amount of recession and cases were followed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months postoperative. Results: The mean LID in group I was (6.2 ± 0.61 mm) and (6.1 ± 0.55 mm) in group II. The mean dose response (MDR) at 1 year postoperative was (2.32 ± 0.25 mm) in group I and (2.26 ± 0.23) in group II. In patients with LID < 5.5, the mean dose response was (1.98 ± 0.26) compared with that of patients with LID > 6.25 mm who had larger mean dose response (2.52 ± 0.15). There was a significant positive correlation between the LR muscle LID and the dose-response effect. Conclusion: There is positive correlation between the LID of the LR muscle and the recession effect in bilateral lateral rectus recession in treatment of IXT.