Children with exotropia responsive to spectacle correction of hyperopia.

ABSTRACT

A series of seven exotropic children (aged 2 to 10 years) had resolution of exotropia after spectacle correction of hyperopia. Their hyperopic correction ranged from 3.00 to 7.00 diopters. Six had intermittent exotropia, which became small-angle esophoria after spectacle correction. In one patient with apparently no fusion, spectacle correction converted constant exotropia to small esotropia in the monofixational range. In all patients, Worth 4-dot and Titmus Stereo Test results, when obtainable, indicated an improvement in binocular sensory status after correction of the hyperopia. We conclude that a trial of spectacle correction is warranted in exotropic children with severe hyperopia and in those with moderate hyperopia and a low accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio or evidence of hypoaccommodation.