Eye muscle surgery showdown: which fix for wandering eyes works best?

NCT ID NCT01032603

First seen Jul 09, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial compares two common surgical procedures for intermittent exotropia, a condition where one eye occasionally turns outward. Children aged 3 to 10 with basic or pseudo-divergence excess type exotropia are randomly assigned to receive either bilateral lateral rectus recession (both eyes) or unilateral recession with medial rectus resection (one eye). The study tracks eye alignment and depth perception over three years to determine which surgery yields better long-term results.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
surgery (eye muscle recession and resection)
What this could lead to
If one procedure proves more effective, it could become the preferred surgical approach for treating intermittent exotropia in children, improving long-term eye alignment and depth perception.
What could go wrong
This is a surgical trial with inherent risks like overcorrection, undercorrection, or need for repeat surgery. Results may not apply to all types of exotropia or older patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for EXOTROPIA are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37232-8808, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.