Does occlusion therapy improve control in intermittent exotropia?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of occlusion therapy in the control of intermittent exotropia (IXT) in children between 4 and 10 years in Saudi Arabia. This study will highlight the importance of patching IXT patients and assist to approach the proper use of occlusion therapy. METHODS: A clinical, prospective cohort pilot study was performed on 21 untreated IXT patients. Evaluation of the deviation angle, amplitudes, stereopsis and control before, during and after occlusion therapy was performed. RESULTS: Eleven percent of the subjects demonstrated a decrease in the deviation angle by 50% while 55.5% attained normal ranges for base-out fusional amplitudes and 77% attained success for the control. CONCLUSION: We suggest that alternate occlusion therapy can improve the sensory status and strengthen the fusional amplitudes but does not improve the deviation angle and therefore is useful to postpone surgery in young children and may improve surgical outcome.