Prognostic factors for strabismus surgery after cataract surgery

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical features of strabismus that present after cataract surgery and determine the motor and sensory results after surgical correction of the strabismus.

Setting

Department of Ophthalmology, the Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Methods

Thirty-one patients who had strabismus surgery after cataract surgery between January 1996 and June 2004 were included in the study. The clinical features of strabismus and the factors contributing to successful strabismus surgery results were retrospectively analyzed. Sensory functional tests were performed postoperatively.

Results

Fifteen patients (48.4%) had exotropia. The types of cataract included traumatic (35.5%), congenital (32.3%), and senile (25.8%). Prolonged deviation was the statistically significant factor contributing to final alignment (P = .023). Fourteen of 31 patients had stereoacuity measurement; all achieved a stereoacuity of 3000 seconds of arc. Five of the 14 patients (35.7%) had better than 200 seconds of arc.

Conclusions

The anatomical results and sensory function of the patients were generally good. When appropriate, surgical intervention to treat strabismus after cataract surgery should be offered, and this is important for restoration of fusion.