Fusion Exercises for Treatment of Intermittent Exotropia and Phoria

INTRODUCTION: Fusion exercises have been used in the management of intermittent exotropia (X(T)) for over one hundred years. The opinions regarding their efficacy are controversial. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Dynamics of binocular status were investigated retrospectively in ninety-six patients with X(T). Forty-eight subjects had specific orthoptic treatment (treatment group). Forty-eight had no orthoptic treatment (control group). Both groups were matched for age, sex, and race. The orthoptic treatment consisted of a cat stereogram, home-based fusion exercises, which patients were asked to perform twice daily. RESULTS: The treatment group showed significant enhancement of binocular function, particularly control of strabismus and stereoacuity for distance. The control group showed further deterioration of binocular functions. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest patients with X(T) objectively improve their binocular function after fusion exercises.