Multiple sclerosis presenting as acute acquired comitant esotropia in a pediatric patient

Effects of cycloplegia on crystalline lens morphology and location in acute acquired concomitant esotropia

PURPOSE

The study aims to compare morphology and location of crystalline lens between acute acquired concomitant esotropia (AACE) patients and control subjects, both before and after cycloplegia.

METHODS

This is a prospective and observational clinical study. Morphological and locational parameters of the crystalline lens in 53 AACE patients and 32 control subjects were assessed before and after cycloplegia using CASIA2 system, which represents the latest swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Cycloplegic refraction was recorded by administering 1% atropine in patients younger than 12 years and 1% cyclopentolate in those > 12 years old. Morphological parameters included anterior radius of curvature (ARC), posterior radius of curvature (PRC), lens thickness (LTH), and equivalent diameter of lens (LED). Locational parameters comprised lens decentration (LD) and lens tilt (LT). Comparison of these parameters before and after cycloplegia were conducted between AACE and controls. Additionally, the study analyzed and compared the changes in these parameter post-cycloplegia.

RESULTS

Our findings suggest no significant difference in morphological parameters including ARC, PRC, LTH and LED between AACE patients and controls before or after cycloplegia. However, 2D-modeling data in the 0° meridian revealed that variation post-cycloplegia of LD (lens shift) in right eyes was different in AACE patients, measuring - 0.03(0.08) [median(interquartile range)] which was significantly distinct from the control group, exhibiting a measurement of 0.01(0.06) (z =  - 2.373, p = 0.018). In left eyes, a similar trend was observed with lens shift in the 0° meridian being 0.02(0.06) in AACE, significantly differing from control group's measurement of - 0.02(0.08) (z =  - 2.809, p = 0.005). Further, correlation analysis revealed that larger temporal shift of lens was associated with greater changes in ARC (r = 0.294, p = 0.006) and LTH (r =  - 0.230, p = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

The morphological features of the crystalline lens were similar in AACE patients and controls; however, the change of lens location by cycloplegia was observed only in AACE patients, suggesting an association with excessive accommodation.

Risk Factors for Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia in Children and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Background

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is a rare subtype of esotropia that occurs after infancy. The exact pathogenesis of AACE remains unknown with aetiologies ranging from benign conditions to serious underlying neurological diseases being reported. Given the elusive characteristic of AACE, diagnostic and management guidelines remain unclear. This systematic review aims to contribute to this field by summarising the risk factors for AACE reported thus far.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted with papers found in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane library, PubMed databases and other sources. Eligible studies investigating the risk factors for, and clinical features of, AACE in children and young adults were critically appraised before relevant data were extracted and discussed via a narrative summary.

Results

Twelve studies were included in the final review, of which six and eight papers reported on benign and non-benign risk factors for AACE respectively. Identified benign risk factors varied among studies, while non-benign risk factors were associated with intracranial pathologies, multiple sclerosis and head trauma.

Conclusion

Given the low generalisability of study findings, no definitive conclusions can be drawn on the significance of each risk factor on AACE development. Further prospective research with more objective measurements of 'near work', larger sample sizes and control groups is required to better ascertain any cause-effect relationship, refine the diagnostic criteria for each AACE subtype and advise on appropriate management guidelines for AACE.

Still an Unsolved Question: The Place of Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Acute Acquired Concomitant Esotropia

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to collect further data to estimate the risk of relevant intracranial pathology and thereby better assess the need for cranial imaging in children with acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE). To date, there is still not enough literature on this topic to enable a consensus on the diagnostic algorithm.

METHODS

We analyzed data from patients with convergent strabismus who received cranial imaging via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-one patients received a cranial MRI for the diagnostic evaluation of AACE. The age range was from 2 to 12 years, and the mean age at the time of diagnosis was 5.5 years. Of these patients, only one exhibited insignificant MRI findings, with no therapeutic consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data add further evidence that AACE without neurological findings or other ophthalmologic anomalies might not be an indication for cranial MRI as a diagnostic screening tool.

Risk of serious intracranial pathology in children presenting with acute acquired comitant esotropia

OBJECTIVE

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is defined as a sudden-onset constant nonaccommodative esodeviation. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of serious intracranial pathology in children presenting with AACE.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care pediatric hospital.

METHODS

The study included consecutive children who met the diagnostic criteria for AACE and had neuroimaging at a tertiary care pediatric hospital between 2000 and 2020. Patients were identified by searching the radiology database for all children who underwent neuroimaging for esotropia. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with serious intracranial pathology. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for finding likely causative intracranial pathology and the proportion of patients with incidental findings.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most of the patients (75.7%) had normal neuroimaging. The next most common result was an incidental finding unrelated to the esotropia (18.7%). Five patients (4.7%) had findings with uncertain contribution to esotropia, including 3 cases of type I Chiari malformation. A serious intracranial pathology was found in 1 patient (0.9%) who had a cerebellar medulloblastoma.

CONCLUSION

In this large series of pediatric patients with AACE who underwent neuroimaging, there was a small but nontrivial risk of serious intracranial pathology. In these patients, it is advisable either to obtain neuroimaging or to monitor closely for the development of concerning signs or symptoms.

Clinical features, etiological reasons, and treatment results in patients who developed acute acquired nonaccomodative esotropia

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical features, possible etiological reasons, and treatment results in children who developed acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) without strabismus in previous years.

METHODS

Medical records of the patients who were diagnosed with AACE between July 2017 and June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The children with ocular and orbital pathology, hypermetropia > 2.00 diopters, and anisometropia > 1.00 diopters were not included in the study. Possible etiological factors that could cause esotropia, treatment results, motor, and sensory functions were investigated.

RESULTS

The mean age at first admission, and the onset of AACE, was 8.8 ± 2.9 (4-13) years of three female (23.1%) and 10 male (76.9%) cases. The causes of AACE were determined to be occlusion of the eye due to corneal foreign body removal in one (7.7%), emotional stress in one case (7.7%), and excessive close work, on computer and smartphone screens in the other 11 cases (84.6%). Orthotropia was achieved in cases who underwent strabismus surgery (n = 10) and in cases using the prism (n = 2); except for one case, all (92.3%) achieved binocular single vision (100 s/arc stereopsis and fusion) after treatment, while there was no binocular single vision in any of the cases before treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute acquired comitant esotropia is a rare clinical entity. Successful motor and sensory outcomes can be achieved by strabismus surgery or by prism therapy. It is critical to investigate the patientş with AACE in terms of intracranial pathologies, although rarely seen.

Clinical characteristics and aetiology of acute acquired comitant esotropia

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is characterised by the acute onset of diplopia which affects work and life.Background: To describe the clinical characteristics and discuss the aetiology of acute acquired comitant esotropia.Methods: The medical records of 51 patients with AACE were retrospectively analysed, and their age, occupation, daily average time spent on near work, angle of deviation, refractive error and aetiology were analysed.Results: The age at onset of AACE was eight to 55 years. Thirty-nine patients were aged 12 to 36 years (76.5%), and 42 patients (82.4%) were myopic. The angle of deviation was 20^Δ (12^Δ to 35^Δ) during near fixation and 25^Δ (18^Δ to 40^Δ) during distance fixation. The deviation during distance fixation was larger than that during near fixation, the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.001). The daily average time of near work before onset was 9.0 h (8.0 h to 10.0 h); 35 patients (68.6%) spent more than 8 h performing near work. Their occupations included students, accountants, information technology staff, and those who required electronic use for a long time. There is no correlation between the angle of deviation and the time of near work (p > 0.05). Among the 51 patients, three had intracranial diseases. Diplopia resolved in 47 cases following treatment. The angle of deviation post-treatment was 0^Δ (0^Δ to 5^Δ) during near and 0^Δ (0^Δ to 3^Δ) during distance fixation.Conclusion: AACE occurs mostly in myopic older children and adults. The onset of esotropia is related to long-term near work. AACE patients mostly present an angle of deviation that is larger during distance than near fixation. Intracranial disease is an infrequent but important cause of AACE that needs to be excluded in all cases.