Early Onset Esotropia

Abstract

This paper is based on a study of 130 children with a history indicating an onset of convergent squint before the age of six months, who have been examined over a period of some years at Leeds General Infirmary. In order to ensure consistency and reliability of the data, as well as to make some longitudinal study of any changes in the findings, children who were less than two years of age at the final examination and those with less than 12 months follow up were excluded. The cases were then divided into those exhibiting nystagmus (group 1, 56 patients), and those not doing so (group 2, 74 patients). No attempt was made to analyse the nystagmus in detail, for even when it was mainly latent in character, there was usually a lateral version position in which it became manifest. Not only did the nystagmus vary in different directions of gaze and at different distances of fixation, but it also tended to change in character at successive examinations.