Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia in Adults: Is It Neurologic or Not?

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of acute acquired comitant esotropia

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is mainly characterized by sudden onset, accompanied by diplopia, without extraocular muscles paralysis or ocular motility disorders. In recent years, the incidence of AACE has been increasing, researchers have found that this phenomenon may be related to the widespread use of electronic devices and the increase in the number of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its neural mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This article primarily reviews the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of AACE from the perspectives of etiology and treatment methods, aiming to provide direction for future in-depth exploration of the pathogenesis and treatment approaches of this disease.

Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes of Comitant Esotropia in an Adult Population Between 18 and 60 Years Old

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of adults with comitant nonaccommodative esotropia.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

Retrospective review of medical records of patients 18 to 60 years old with comitant esotropia who underwent strabismus surgery at a tertiary eye care center between 2014 and 2023. The etiology of esotropia was categorized into three groups based on the disparity between near-distance angles of deviation: (1) basic esotropia (ETBA); (2) esotropia divergence insufficiency pattern; or (3) esotropia convergence excess pattern. The main outcome measures were strabismus characteristics and motor and sensory surgical outcomes. Surgical motor success was defined as a deviation that measured ≤10 prism diopters (PD).

RESULTS

Of the 219 that met the inclusion criteria, most patients were female (140, 64%) and had a mean age of 36.7 ± 12.3 years (range 18-60 years). The majority were myopic (157, 72%) and reported diplopia (176/219, 80.3%). The esotropia convergence excess pattern group had the largest mean deviations at both distance (45.5 ± 11.5 PD) and near (64 ± 12.3 PD) while the ETBA group had the largest ranges at distance (31 ± 13.5 PD, range 3-90) and near (30 ± 15 PD, range 2-85). Bilateral medial rectus recession and unilateral recess-resect procedures were performed with equal frequency (both 48%). Motor and sensory success were achieved more often with recess-resect than bilateral medial rectus recession, although only motor success was statistically significant (87.8% vs. 73.2%, P = .0375 and 93.3% vs. 85.5%, P = 15, respectively). At the last encounter, 88.1% (119/135) of patients with preoperative diplopia achieved single binocular vision.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of the pattern of esotropia, strabismus surgery in adults with comitant nonaccommodative esotropia resulted in good motor and sensory outcomes.

Acquired comitant esotropias - comparison of surgical outcomes of accommodative vs non-accommodative types

Purpose: To compare the motor and sensory outcomes of strabismus surgery and the factors affecting surgical success in acquired acute non-accomodative esotropia (ANAET) and partially accommodative refractive esotropia (pARET). Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with ANAET and pARET who underwent unilateral or bilateral horizontal rectus muscle surgery between January 2020 and December 2021 was conducted. Patients with postoperative follow-up of at least six weeks were included. Patients with pattern deviation, lateral incomitance, and near-distance disparity were excluded. Motor success was defined as a postoperative deviation within eight prism diopters of orthophoria. Sensory success was defined as presence of binocular single vision (BSV) for both distance and near (Worth four dot test). The effect of factors like age at onset, age at surgery, amblyopia before surgery, duration of squint before treatment, presence or absence and magnitude of vertical deviation, preoperative angle of deviation, and spherical equivalent on the motor and sensory success in each group were analyzed and compared. Results: 38 patients with ANAET and 33 patients with pARET were included. The mean age of onset of esotropia was 8.55 ± 4.65 years and 4.39 ± 2.27 years (p < .001) and the mean age at surgery was 10.62 ± 4.99 years and 7.89 ± 2.84 years (p = .006) in the ANAET and the pARET group respectively. The mean duration of the final follow-up was 38.51 weeks in the ANAET and 48.68 weeks in the pARET group (p = .089). Patients were successfully aligned for both distance and near in 81.5% of patients in the ANAET and 78.9% of patients in the pARET group at the final follow-up (p. 0.775). A BSV for both distance and near at the final follow-up was seen in 81.2% vs 66.6% of patients in the ANAET and the pARET group respectively (p = .25). A good near stereoacuity (<120 arcsecs) was seen in 60.6% and 41.9% of the ANAET and the pARET groups respectively (p = .175). The percentage of patients in the ANAET group who had orthophoria, any esodeviation, and any exodeviation for distance at the final follow-up was 63.1%, 34.2% and, 2.6%. The percentage of patients in the pARET group in similar categories was 36.3%, 42.4% and, 21.2%. None of the demographic and preoperative factors were found to affect the surgical outcomes in the two groups. Conclusions: The motor and sensory outcomes were similar in the two groups. A higher proportion of ANAET patients remained orthophoric during the follow-up. The patients in the pARET group showed a tendency toward exodrift.

Neurological pathologies in acute acquired comitant esotropia

BACKGROUND

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is an uncommon subtype of esotropia characterized by sudden and usually late onset of a relatively large angle of comitant esotropia with diplopia in older children and adults.

METHODS

A literature survey regarding neurological pathologies in AACE was conducted using databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BioMed Central, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) in order to collect data for a narrative review of published reports and available literature.

RESULTS

The results of the literature survey were analyzed to provide an overview of the current knowledge of neurological pathologies in AACE. The results revealed that AACE with unclear etiologies can occur in many cases in both children and adults. Functional etiological factors for AACE were found to be due to many reasons, such as functional accommodative spasm, the excessive near work use of mobile phones/smartphones, and other digital screens. In addition, AACE was found to be associated with neurological disorders, such as astrocytoma of the corpus callosum, medulloblastoma, tumors of the brain stem or cerebellum, Arnold-Chiari malformation, cerebellar astrocytoma, Chiari 1 malformation, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, pontine glioma, cerebellar ataxia, thalamic lesions, myasthenia gravis, certain types of seizures, and hydrocephalus.

CONCLUSIONS

Previously reported cases of AACE with unknown etiologies have been reported in both children and adults. However, AACE can be associated with neurological disorders that require neuroimaging probes. The author recommends that clinicians should perform comprehensive neurological assessments to rule out neurological pathologies in AACE, especially in the presence of nystagmus or abnormal ocular and neurological indications (e.g., headache, cerebellar imbalance, weakness, nystagmus, papilloedema, clumsiness, and poor motor coordination).

Neurological pathologies associated with acute acquired comitant esotropia

Previously reported cases of acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) with unknown etiologies have been reported in both children and adults. However, AACE can be associated with neurological disorders that require neuroimaging probes. The author recommends that clinicians should perform comprehensive neurological assessments to rule out neurological pathologies in AACE, especially in the presence of A or V pattern esotropia, nystagmus, or abnormal ocular and neurological indications (e.g. headache, cerebellar imbalance, weakness, nystagmus, papilloedema, clumsiness, and poor motor coordination).

Management of acute acquired comitant esotropia in children

Aim: This report aims to discuss and review the diagnosis and management of acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) in children and to add several cases to the limited literature available on this unusual condition in the pediatric population. Materials and methods: We present two cases of AACE with large-angle deviations that were investigated and followed-up according to current recommendations. Both cases required strabismus surgery for AACE, but different procedures were chosen, with good postoperative results. Results: Unilateral recession of the medial rectus and resection of the lateral rectus (R&R) were performed in one case and bilateral medial rectus (MR) recession in the other, with resolution of the diplopia and full recovery of binocular vision. Discussion: Although isolated AACE is usually benign, studies have reported the presence of intracranial disease in up to 10% of cases, making it a potential first sign of an underlying serious pathology. Therefore, AACE should be investigated as a medical emergency and neuroimaging should be performed in all patients with unclear onset of AACE, as well as in those with associated neurological symptoms, such as headache, cerebellar imbalance, weakness, or nystagmus. Conclusion: Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is an infrequent type of esotropia that usually appears in older children. It is characterized by esotropia and diplopia with acute onset. Neurological examinations and neuroimaging should be performed to exclude any potential intracranial disease. Treatment of AACE without underlying neurological disease is focused on managing the diplopia and resolving the esotropia. Strabismus surgery has good motor and sensory results and can successfully restore good binocular function. Abbreviations: AACE = Acute acquired comitant esotropia, LR = lateral rectus, MR = medial rectus, PD = prism diopters, R&R = recession and resection, BSV = binocular single vision, PAT = prism adaptation test.

Clinical features and treatment of near-work-related acquired esotropia

AIM

To investigate the characteristics of near-work-related esotropia and the clinical efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injection therapy on it.

METHODS

A total of 107 patients aged 15-57y with near-work-related esotropia were taken as the BTXA-treated group, and 30 other peers without near-work-related esotropia were included in the control group. All participants were refractive corrected to analyse the clinical characteristics of near-work-related esotropia. All subjects were examined including Worth4 spot examination, stereoscopic vision, strabismus angle, accommodative convergence to accommodation ratio (AC/A), far and near positive and negative convergence, positive and negative fusion range, positive and negative relative accommodation. Clinical efficacy was evaluated at a period of 10mo follow-up.

RESULTS

The distant and near stereopsis were found in 84.9% and 77.5% of patients in the BTXA-treated group, respectively. In the control group, all patients had distant and near stereopsis. The incidence of taking off one's glasses to see close objects was significantly higher in the BTXA-treated group than in the control group (P<0.05). The BTXA-treated group showed a smaller range of in-fusion (9.84±5.72)° than the control group (22.04±8.71)° (P<0.05). The near esotropia angle of the BTXA-treated group (17.08±11.98)^Δ was significantly smaller than the distant esotropia angle (19.07±11.68)^Δ (P<0.05). Ten months after injection, the diplopia and esotropia of most patients underwent improvements after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study reveals that the accommodation function and the habit of near work without wearing spectacles are associated with near-work-related esotropia, while the length of time for near work and the onset time are independent of near-work-related esotropia. Additionally, BTXA injection therapy plays a vital role in relieving diplopia and restoring eye position.

Outcomes of Medial Rectus Recession With Adjustable Suture in Acute Concomitant Esotropia of Adulthood

PURPOSE

To review and analyze the surgical outcomes of bilateral medial rectus recession with adjustable suture in acute concomitant esotropia of adulthood (ACEA).

METHODS

The charts of all adults diagnosed as having ACEA between 2004 and 2017 were reviewed. Best corrected visual acuity, refractive error, ocular alignment measured in prism diopters (PD), and stereopsis were examined at presentation, 1 day postoperatively, and final follow-up visit (median: 10 months; range: 4 to 144 months). All patients underwent bilateral medial rectus recession using adjustable suture surgery and topical anesthesia. Statistical analysis was used to calculate surgical dose-responses and to study possible correlations with clinical parameters.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients diagnosed as having ACEA were included. The mean age was 39.2 ± 10.7 years, and the mean refractive errors in the right and left eyes were -3.97 ± 2.87 and -3.60 ± 2.74 diopters (D), respectively. Average esotropia deviations at near and distance were 22.7 ± 7.2 and 23.0 ± 7.5 PD. All patients improved with medial rectus recession (mean: 12.0 ± 2.2 mm) with a final mean deviation of 0.7 ± 1.8 PD. The mean dose-responses at 1 day postoperatively and final visit were 1.86 ± 0.58 and 1.83 ± 0.43 PD/mm, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between surgical dose-responses at 1 day postoperatively and final visit and preoperative deviation (R² = 0.55; P < .001; R² = 0.66; P < .001), whereas there were no significant correlations with age, sex, refractive error, BCVA, or stereopsis (all P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Good postoperative and final outcomes are achieved with large medial rectus recessions in ACEA. A larger dose-response can be expected in large preoperative deviations, independent of other clinical and ocular parameters. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(2):101-106.].

Acute Onset Esotropia From Excessive Smartphone Use in a Teenager

Acute acquired comitant esotropia secondary to smart-phone use is a newly described phenomenon. This case report describes a boy with acute acquired comitant esotropia due to prolonged smartphone use who had improvement in binocular function after cessation of near work for several weeks. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55:e42-e44.].