Outcome of large angle exotropia treated by single stage adjustable strabismus surgery with monitored conscious anesthesia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of large-angle exotropia by single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery (SSASS) under monitored conscious anesthesia. METHODS: A prospective study was done in 33 patients above 14 years with ≥40 prism diopters (PD) of exotropia. All patients underwent SSASS under monitored conscious anesthesia (topical anesthesia plus intravenous sedation). For deviations of ≤55 PD, two horizontal rectus muscles, and for >55 PD, three rectus muscles were operated and a decision on adjustment/operating on an additional rectus muscle was taken after assessing the alignment. Monitored conscious anesthesia allowed us to check our results after surgery and plan further surgery/adjustment to achieve the desired alignment. RESULTS: Mean preoperative deviation for distance was 52 ± 11.1 PD. The target alignment was achieved with the initial surgical plan in 10/21 patients with <55 PD exotropia and 4/12 patients with >55 PD exotropia, and one patient in each group needed adjustment. The remaining patients needed additional rectus muscle surgery. One patient with >55 PD exotropia needed both adjustment and additional rectus surgery. The success rate for distance correction was 85% at 6 months and 1 year. The overall success rate was 71% at 6 months. Percentage of patients with binocular single vision improved from 31% preoperatively to 78% by 6 months. Incidence of oculocardiac reflex was 6.1%. CONCLUSION: SSASS under monitored conscious anesthesia is a viable option for large-angle strabismus correction with good patient comfort and safety.