PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - MacEwen, C J
AU  - Chakrabarti, H S
TI  - Why is squint surgery in children in decline?
AID  - 10.1136/bjo.2002.016618
DP  - 2004 Apr 01
TA  - British Journal of Ophthalmology
PG  - 509--511
VI  - 88
IP  - 4
4099  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/4/509.short
4100  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/4/509.full
SO  - Br J Ophthalmol2004 Apr 01; 88
AB  - Background/aims: Paediatric squint surgery appears to be declining. This study aims to identify if this is so and, if so, why. Methods: Retrospective review of (1) episodes of paediatric squint surgery in Scotland and Tayside, 1986–2001, (2) presentations to orthoptists (Tayside) during 1986 and 1996. Results: (1) Overall, a 58% fall in surgery in Scotland and 59% in Tayside. For esotropia, a reduction of 63% (Scotland) and 69% (Tayside). (2) Incidence of esotropia was unchanged; surgery for these esotropes fell (from 55% to 30%) (p = 0.013). More children received maximum hypermetropic correction (p <0.001) and more developed stereopsis (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Childhood strabismus surgery, particularly for esotropia, is declining. The maximum hypermetropic correction has improved the functional results.