CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY-ONSET ESOTROPIA

Some 115 patients with a reported onset of esotropia within the first six months of life were studied retrospectively to assess ocular findi ngs and the evolution of any changes with time. All patients had been treated by one ophthalmologist and one orthoptist since 1972. Of the 1 15 patients, 27% had an accommodative element associated with the esot ropia. Patients with an accommodative esotropia had higher levels of h ypermetropia when compared to the non-accommodative group, but there w ere no other distinguishing characteristics. The groups exhibited a la rge variation in angle size, ranging from four to 45 degrees at the in itial visit. The presence of fusion, amblyopia and the degree of hyper metropia had no significant effect on the course of the squint. Amblyo pia was noted in 67% of cases and appeared to stabilise at a later-tha n-expected age, with 66% of patients with ambylopia stabilising betwee n eight and 11 years. Surgical intervention had no effect on the incid ence of amblyopia at the initial or final visits.