Characteristics of exodeviations: II. Changes with treatment with orthoptics.

This study examined retrospectively the records of 179 patients who had binocular visual dysfunction as a result of an exodeviation (either at distance or near or both). The patients were classified as having convergence insufficiency (N = 110), equal exodeviations (N = 49), or divergence excess (N = 18). The diagnostic groups and the different frequencies of deviation reacted differently to treatment with a standard orthoptic regimen. Nearly all the patients (97%) achieved some improvement in either objective or subjective areas or both. However, fewer were able to satisfy the criteria set for total success. Factors correlated with the success of the treatment were the initial angle of deviation at distance and the initial level of stereopsis. The results and implications of this study are discussed.