Results of a single lateral rectus resection for divergence and partial sixth nerve paralysis.

A single 5.5-millimeter to 8.0-millimeter lateral rectus resection eliminated diplopia in five of six adult patients with divergence paralysis and in all three patients with a sixth cranial nerve paresis. Preoperative distance esotropia ranged from 11 to 20 prism diopters in primary gaze. Prism therapy failed in seven of nine patients. Lateral incomitance was reduced in three patients with a mild limitation of abduction preoperatively, but was not induced in the six patients with divergence paralysis. Significant overcorrection of the near esodeviation did not occur. A single lateral rectus resection can effectively eliminate diplopia in selected patients with divergence and partial sixth nerve paralysis.