Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of acute acquired comitant esotropia.

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is mainly characterized by sudden onset, accompanied by diplopia, without extraocular muscles paralysis or ocular motility disorders. In recent years, the incidence of AACE has been increasing, researchers have found that this phenomenon may be related to the widespread use of electronic devices and the increase in the number of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its neural mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This article primarily reviews the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of AACE from the perspectives of etiology and treatment methods, aiming to provide direction for future in-depth exploration of the pathogenesis and treatment approaches of this disease.

Neurological pathologies in acute acquired comitant esotropia.

BACKGROUND: Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is an uncommon subtype of esotropia characterized by sudden and usually late onset of a relatively large angle of comitant esotropia with diplopia in older children and adults. METHODS: A literature survey regarding neurological pathologies in AACE was conducted using databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BioMed Central, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) in order to collect data for a narrative review of published reports and available literature. RESULTS: The results of the literature survey were analyzed to provide an overview of the current knowledge of neurological pathologies in AACE. The results revealed that AACE with unclear etiologies can occur in many cases in both children and adults. Functional etiological factors for AACE were found to be due to many reasons, such as functional accommodative spasm, the excessive near work use of mobile phones/smartphones, and other digital screens. In addition, AACE was found to be associated with neurological disorders, such as astrocytoma of the corpus callosum, medulloblastoma, tumors of the brain stem or cerebellum, Arnold-Chiari malformation, cerebellar astrocytoma, Chiari 1 malformation, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, pontine glioma, cerebellar ataxia, thalamic lesions, myasthenia gravis, certain types of seizures, and hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONS: Previously reported cases of AACE with unknown etiologies have been reported in both children and adults. However, AACE can be associated with neurological disorders that require neuroimaging probes. The author recommends that clinicians should perform comprehensive neurological assessments to rule out neurological pathologies in AACE, especially in the presence of nystagmus or abnormal ocular and neurological indications (e.g., headache, cerebellar imbalance, weakness, nystagmus, papilloedema, clumsiness, and poor motor coordination).

A rare case of intramuscular orbital amyloidosis presenting as progressive esotropia in an adult.

Orbital amyloidosis is an uncommon entity. Lacrimal gland, orbital soft tissue and extraocular muscles are the usual sites of involvement. Deposition of amyloid in the extraocular muscle can be either isolated or associated with systemic amyloidosis. We describe a case of a 43-year-old male with isolated amyloid infiltration of the right lateral rectus muscle presenting as a progressive esotropia. The case was initially misdiagnosed as lateral rectus palsy and myositis due to non-specific radiological features of the entity. The diagnosis was confirmed by a biopsy. Intramuscular Botulinum toxin injection, was administered to the right medial rectus to alleviate diplopia temporarily, and strabismus surgery was planned at a later stage. Amyloid deposition is a rare cause of extraocular muscle enlargement. Histopathology is confirmatory. Screening for systemic amyloidosis is mandatory in all cases.

Clinical features, etiological reasons, and treatment results in patients who developed acute acquired nonaccomodative esotropia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features, possible etiological reasons, and treatment results in children who developed acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) without strabismus in previous years. METHODS: Medical records of the patients who were diagnosed with AACE between July 2017 and June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The children with ocular and orbital pathology, hypermetropia > 2.00 diopters, and anisometropia > 1.00 diopters were not included in the study. Possible etiological factors that could cause esotropia, treatment results, motor, and sensory functions were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age at first admission, and the onset of AACE, was 8.8 ± 2.9 (4-13) years of three female (23.1%) and 10 male (76.9%) cases. The causes of AACE were determined to be occlusion of the eye due to corneal foreign body removal in one (7.7%), emotional stress in one case (7.7%), and excessive close work, on computer and smartphone screens in the other 11 cases (84.6%). Orthotropia was achieved in cases who underwent strabismus surgery (n = 10) and in cases using the prism (n = 2); except for one case, all (92.3%) achieved binocular single vision (100 s/arc stereopsis and fusion) after treatment, while there was no binocular single vision in any of the cases before treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Acute acquired comitant esotropia is a rare clinical entity. Successful motor and sensory outcomes can be achieved by strabismus surgery or by prism therapy. It is critical to investigate the patients with AACE in terms of intracranial pathologies, although rarely seen.

Augmented inferior rectus transposition with medial rectus recession in treatment of chronic unilateral sixth nerve palsy.

BACKGROUND: to report the results of augmented inferior rectus muscle transposition (IRT) in management of chronic sixth nerve palsy. METHODS: a retrospective review of medical records of patients with chronic complete sixth nerve palsy who were treated by augmented full thickness IRT to the lateral border of the paralyzed lateral rectus muscle. Patients were selected for IRT if there was more limitation of abduction in inferior gaze associated with V- pattern esotropia. Medial rectus recession (MRRc) was performed in case of positive intraoperative forced duction. Effect on primary position esotropia, face turn, amount of V-pattern and limitation of ocular ductions were reported and analyzed. RESULTS: the review revealed 11 patients (7 males) with chronic unilateral sixth nerve palsy who were treated by simultaneous augmented IRT and MRRc. Causes of sixth nerve palsy were trauma (6 cases), vascular (3 cases), inflammation and congenital (one case each). Mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 35.6 years (range; 11-63) and mean follow up was 8.6 months (range; 6-13). Postoperatively, average correction of esotropia, V-pattern, face turn and limited abduction were 35.9 PD, 11.4 PD, 25.9° and 2.2 unit, respectively (p < .00). Postoperative complications in the form anterior segment ischemia, symptomatic induced vertical deviations were not found. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of chronic unilateral sixth nerve palsy associated with more limitation of abduction in downgaze and V-pattern esotropia, augmented IRT could be considered as an effective and safe modality.

Newly developed abnormal head position and secondary esotropia after strabismus surgery for children with intermittent exotropia.

PURPOSE: To review cases of newly developed AHP and secondary esotropia (ET) after surgical correction for IXT. METHODS: Medical records of cases with newly developed AHP and secondary ET after surgical correction for IXT were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Fifteen cases were included and the mean pre-operative exodeviation was 31.7 ± 10.6 prism diopters (PD) (range: 16-50) at distance. They received bilateral lateral rectus (LR) recessions (13/15), unilateral LR recession and medial rectus (MR) resection (1/15) or bilateral LR recession plus unilateral MR resection (1/15). Fourteen patients developed chin-down AHP with secondary V-pattern ET and 1 presented chin-up AHP with secondary A-pattern ET. The mean esodeviation in primary gaze was 22.7 ± 10.0 PD (range: 3-40) at distance. Twelve cases underwent a second surgery for correction of AHP and secondary ET, and approximately half (5/11) of the recessed LR muscles explored showed a 3-5 mm downward displacement of the new attachment. Surgical management mainly included advancement of LR to the original insertion with a 3-5 mm upward transposition. The AHP dissipated and ocular alignment returned to normal in all of these cases. Three cases did not require further surgery, and their AHP and secondary ET were no longer present at 2-5 months after the first surgery. CONCLUSION: A downward shift of the recessed LR in IXT may lead to secondary V-pattern ET and development of a chin-down AHP. Advancement of LR with an upward transposition serves as an effective procedure for the correction of this complication.

Pseudo-Gaze Deviation Resulting From Positive Angle Kappa and Esotropia.

ABSTRACT: A 6-year-old boy was referred for constant right gaze deviation. Rather than a gaze deviation, he constantly seemed to look on the left side of any displayed target. Examination revealed the association of a highly positive angle Kappa and an esotropia of equal values. He also exhibited signs of ocular albinism with no associated infantile nystagmus syndrome. The X-linked ocular albinism was confirmed genetically, explaining the presence of a positive angle Kappa. A highly positive angle Kappa can be associated with a convergent strabismus; in case both values offset each other, this can result in a constant "sidelooking," which should not be confused with a gaze deviation.

Clinical Parameters Reflecting Globe/orbit Volume Imbalances in Japanese Acquired Esotropia Patients with High Myopia but without Abduction Limitations.

In high myopia, eye dislocation due to increased globe volume or tight orbital volume causes acquired esotro-pia. GOR (globe/orbit volume ratio), an indicator of the degree of progression of this pathology, was investi-gated the relationships among easily obtained clinical parameters. In this retrospective study, 20 eyes from 10 acquired esotropia patients with high myopia but without abduction limitations were examined. The mean age of the patients was 63.7 ± 8.2 years (mean ± standard deviation). Volumes were measured on the three-dimen-sional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition magnetic resonance imaging images using the vol-ume-measurement function. Correlations between GOR and the displacement angle of the globe (DA), axial length (AL), and equatorial diameter (ED) were investigated. Mean DA, AL, ED, and GOR values were 107.5 ± 8.5°, 28.86 ± 1.92 mm, 25.00 ± 1.16 mm, and 0.36 ± 0.05, respectively. Only AL was correlated with GOR (p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.6649); DA (p = 0.30, R2 = 0.0633) and ED (p = 0.91, R2 = 0.0008) were not. AL was the only clinically available parameter to indicate globe/orbit volume imbalances in acquired esotropia with high myopia but without abduction limitation. AL may be important for the clinical assessment of the progression of this pathology.

Acute acquired concomitant esotropia associated with myopia: is the condition related to any binocular function failure?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensory motor state, accommodation, and accommodative convergence to accommodation ratio (AC/A) in a cohort of non-amblyopic myopes with acquired concomitant esotropia (Bielschowsky esotropia (BE)). METHODS: Refraction, near and far deviation, fusional amplitude (FA), near point of accommodation (NPA), AC/A (gradient method), and stereopsis were measured in a cohort of 26 patients (25 phakic and 1 pseudophakic, age: 14-60 years) with BE, prospectively recruited from January to September 2019 at St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to correlate distance with near deviation, distance with near divergence FA and angle of deviation with FA (statistical significance: p values < 0.05). RESULTS: Myopia range was 0-17.5 diopters (D) spherical equivalent (mean: 4.4 D). A positive correlation resulted between distance (mean: 23.7 prism diopters/PD, range: 4-40 PD) and near (mean: 23.7 PD, range: 2-45 PD) deviation (p < 0.00001) and between distance (mean: 12.6 PD, range 0-34 PD) and near (mean: 17.0 PD, range 3-36 PD) divergence FA (p < 0.00001). A non-significant correlation resulted between angle of deviation and divergent FA at near (p = 0.07) and distance (p = 0.13) fixation. NPA was within normal limits for age. AC/C ratio range was 0-8 (mean: 3). Twenty-three patients showed Randot stereopsis. CONCLUSIONS: BE shows high variability in the age of onset, degree of associated myopia, AC/A, and divergent FA. A little stronger near divergent FA can justify the better compensation at near fixation. These results show that uncorrected myopia, accommodation, and divergence paralysis do not concur with the genesis of BE.

Management of stretched scar- induced secondary strabismus.

BACKGROUND: To determine characteristics and management of consecutive or recurrent strabismus secondary to stretched scar. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with late secondary consecutive or recurrent strabismus due to stretched scar from 2012 to 2017. The diagnosis of stretched scar was made in any case of late (≥ 1 month) consecutive or recurrent strabismus associated with underaction of the previously operated muscle. The diagnosis was confirmed intraoperatively by negative forced duction test and the characteristic appearance of the scar tissue. Surgical correction involved excision of the scar tissue with muscle re-attachment to the sclera using non-absorbable sutures. Study parameters include improvement in secondary deviations, degree of muscle underaction and diplopia. RESULTS: 21 consecutive and 6 recurrent cases of stretched scar -induced strabismus were identified and all cases were associated with variable degrees of limited ocular duction. After surgical correction of the stretched scar, consecutive deviations in the form of consecutive esotropia and exotropia were corrected by means of 26.1PD and 65.6PD while recurrent deviations in the form recurrent exotropia and recurrent hypertropia were corrected by means of 34.3PD and 11PD respectively with significant improvement of limited ocular ductions. 21 patients had diplopia at presentation and all were improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: management of stretched scar -induced secondary strabismus by excision of the stretched scar and muscle fixation to the sclera using non-absorbable sutures significantly corrects secondary deviations and improves limitation of ocular duction.

Nonvitreoretinal Eye Injuries in 2 Infants Due to Nonaccidental Trauma.

Intraocular findings are well known and well documented in child abuse cases. However, eye deviation on physical examination can also be just as important in evaluating a child for maltreatment. We present 2 cases of infants younger than 6 months who presented to the emergency department with new-onset abnormal eye deviation, and further evaluation revealed other findings consistent with nonaccidental trauma. These cases were ruled as abusive head trauma and demonstrate the importance of conducting a thorough evaluation for any acute-onset ophthalmological and neurological finding.

[The surgical effect of secondary esotropia with diplopia after orbital decompression for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of extraocular muscle surgery in treating secondary esotropia with diplopia after orbital decompression for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Methods: Retrospective case series study. Eleven secondary esotropic patients with diplopia after orbital decompression for TAO who underwent extraocular muscle surgery during March 2016 and October 2018 in Tianjin Eye Hospital were included. All patients had new onset esotropia after decompression surgery and underwent strabismus surgery. Deviation angle, diplopia, and ocular movement were observed preoperatively and postoperatively. Surgeries were carried out under the monitored anesthesia care combined with local anesthesia, and the eye alignment was adjusted to orthotropia with no diplopia in the operation with the technique of intraoperative adjustable suture and forced duction test results. All the patients were followed up. Results: The ages of the patients were from 26 to 42 years (1 male and 10 females). The deviation angles were 10-98 prism diopter. Orbital CT scan showed that the horizontal rectus thickness was increased at different levels, and the thickness of the medial rectus was increased more than that of the lateral rectus. Two patients had monocular medial rectus recession only, 2 had bilateral medial rectus recession only, 2 had monocular medial rectus recession combined with lateral rectus resection, and the other 5 had bilateral medial rectus recession with monocular lateral rectus resection. The recession of medial rectus muscle was 3.5 to 7.5 mm in 11 patients and 2.0 to 6.0 mm in 7 patients with the resection of lateral rectus muscle. Diplopia of the 11 patients disappeared with orthotropia at primary gaze position after the extraocular muscle surgery. The limitation of abduction changed from preoperative (-1.91±1.04) to postoperative (-0.64±0.81). All the patients were satisfied with the surgical results. At the end of the follow-up (6 to 24 months), the results of the patients were stable, and no over-correction was found. Conclusion: Extraocular muscle surgery with intraoperative adjustable suture technique can effectively treat TAO patients with secondary esotropia with diplopia after orbital decompression. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 183-188).

Application of SRT plus MR recession in supra-maximal esotropia from chronic sixth nerve palsy.

BACKGROUND: To investigate prognostic factors in patients with augmented superior rectus transposition (SRT) for sixth nerve palsy. METHODS: Thirteen patients who were diagnosed with sixth nerve palsy and underwent augmented SRT between January 2015 and February 2017 in EENT Hospital of Fudan University were reviewed retrospectively. Data including age, sex, etiology of the abducens nerve palsy, degree of pre- and postoperative deviation in the primary position, pre- and postoperative abduction deficit, any induced vertical or torsional deviations, reoperations, and other complications was collected. Patients with undercorrection of SRT surgeries received additional inferior rectus transposition (IRT) surgery. RESULTS: Mean esodeviation in primary position improved from 81.92△ to 30.54△ (p < 0.001) with a 1.54-unit improvement in abduction (p = 0.001). Six patients achieved alignment defined as esodeviation in primary position within 10△ of orthotropia and seven patients were undercorrected after the first SRT surgery. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that among factors (disease duration, preoperative esodeviation, preoperative abduction deficit), only the degree of preoperative abduction deficit (ß = - 13.68) was the prognostic factor for success of SRT surgery. After IRT procedures, the mean esodeviation in primary position improved from 40△ to 8△ (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The degree of preoperative abduction deficit is the prognostic factor for augmented SRT for sixth nerve palsy. Patients with worse abduction deficit have a greater likelihood of needing a secondary operation, and IRT could be a good choice for reoperation after SRT.

Post-operative analysis of pediatric esotropia associated with high hypermetropia.

BACKGROUND: To describe clinical features, evaluation, surgical management and outcomes in children with esotropia associated with high hypermetropia. METHODS: Medical records of healthy children who received strabismus surgery for accommodative esotropia with hypermetropia larger than spherical equivalence of + 4.0 diopters from 2009 to 2015, were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients were identified. The average age was 2.9 years old. The average spherical equivalence of cycloplegic refraction was + 6.0 diopters (D). All patients presented with large angle esotropia with spectacle correction. Average age of esotropia onset was 1.3 years. Average time between the onset of esotropia to spectacle correction was 7.2 months. Average duration between onset of constant esotropia to strabismus surgery was 28.1 months. Average duration between spectacle correction to strabismus surgery was 21.8 months. Post-operatively, 74.5% of patients achieved ocular alignment within 10 prism diopters (PD) of orthotropia. Overall, 66.0% patients developed sensory fusion. For patients who achieved surgical success, 71.4% developed sensory fusion, compared at 50.0% for patients who were over- or under-corrected (p = 0.18). For patients who received hyperopic spectacles within 6 months of esotropia onset, 92.3% developed sensory fusion, compared with 54.5% for patients who received hyperopic spectacles at 6 month or later after esotropia onset (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Strabismus surgery for esotropia with high hypermetropia has high rate of surgical success with low rate of under- or over-correction. There is a trend toward higher rate of sensory fusion for patients with surgical success. Shorter time interval between esotropia onset and receiving hyperopic spectacles is associated with higher rate of sensory fusion development.

Strabismus in hydrocephalus patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of strabismus in patients with hydrocephalus. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with strabismus and hydrocephalus is performed in the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology between 2012 and 2018. RESULTS: Seventeen patients between the ages of 6 months and 13 years met the criteria of strabismus and hydrocephalus. Although all had developmental delay, five patients out of 17 were premature (lower than 36 weeks of gestation). All patients had ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for congenital hydrocephalus. Three patients had exotropia, whereas 14 had esotropia. Glasses were prescribed to 13 patients: hyperopic correction in 12 and myopic correction in one patient. Surgical correction with bimedial recession was performed in five patients. Four of them achieved successful ocular alignment. CONCLUSIONS: Children with hydrocephalus most likely have esotropia. Although good ocular alignment is achieved with surgical correction in some patients, some patients may benefit from glasses.

Sudden Diplopia at a Pediatric Emergency Department: A Case of Gradenigo Syndrome in a Child.

OBJECTIVE: Otitis media, facial pain in trigeminal region, and ipsilateral abducens nerve palsy clinically define Gradenigo syndrome, a rare but serious complication of suppurative middle ear infection. Radiological investigation is required to confirm petrous apex involvement and to exclude further consequences as sinus thrombosis, meningitis, and intracranial abscess. METHODS/RESULTS: We report the case of an 8-year-old child referred to our emergency department for recurrent headache and sudden strabismus. Clinical evidence of suppurative otitis media raised the suspicion for Gradenigo syndrome, definitively confirmed at computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Conservative treatment alone enabled complete clinical and radiological remission, without long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being a rare condition, Gradenigo syndrome should be taken into account as potential differential diagnosis in children referred to emergency department for recurrent headache and strabismus. An accurate anamnesis to document recent ear infection is mandatory to orientate the diagnosis and focus radiological investigations. Early recognition and timely intervention may allow conservative management to succeed, avoiding the need for surgery and serious sequelae.

[The causative diseases, common comorbidities and surgical procedures of 948 cases of horizontal sensory strabismus].

Objective: To investigate the common causes, onset age of vision impairment and complications of sensory strabismus, and to explore the effective surgical methods for sensory strabismus and associated complications. Methods: In this retrospective study, there were 948 cases of surgical treatment for sensory strabismus from 2005 to 2015 in Tianjin Eye Hospital, including 822 cases of sensory exotropia and 126 cases of sensory esotropia. Causative disease, onset age of vision impairment, eye movement, horizontal and vertical deviation and surgical methods were evaluated. Statistical methods included independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test. Results: Congenital or traumatic cataract was the most common cause of sensory strabismus. Anisometropia, optic atrophy, corneal opacity and retinal detachment were also primary reasons. The mean onset age of vision impairment was (2.3±4.2) years in the sensory esotropia group and (8.8±9.0) years in the exotropia group, and a positive correlation was found between the two groups (t=-8.00, P<0.01). Sensory strabismus occurred with A- or V-pattern in 100 cases (10.5%), nystagmus in 42 cases (5.1%), DVD in 57 cases (6%) and oblique overaction in 134 cases (14.1%;including 54 cases with A- or V-pattern). No statistically significant difference existed between the relevance ratio of A- or V-pattern, oblique overaction and the type of strabismus (χ(2)=0.13, 0.04; P>0.05), but significance difference existed between the relevance ratio of nystagmus, DVD and the type of strabismus (χ(2)=48.33, 12.04; P<0.01). Conclusions: The leading cause of sensory strabismus was cataract. The onset age of vision impairment was earlier in the sensory esotropia group than the exotropia group. Patients were more likely to suffer from DVD and nystagmus in the sensory esotropia group than the exotropia group. Surgeons should make a comprehensive assessment before surgery to design a rational surgical procedure. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 283-287).