Fusion can mask the relationships between fundus torsion, oblique muscle overaction/underaction, and A- and V-pattern strabismus

Purpose: To evaluate relationships between fundus torsion, A- or V-pattern strabismus, and oblique muscle over- or underaction, and to explore the influence of stereopsis on these relationships.

Methods: The medical records of patients with A or V patterns and/or abnormal ocular torsion seen at a single institution over nearly 30 years were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected were age, objective fundus torsion (estimated by indirect ophthalmoscopy), horizontal deviations in up- and downgaze, oblique muscle over- or underaction, and stereopsis.

Results: A total of 396 patients were included. A patterns were observed in 121 patients (30.6%); V patterns in 90 (22.7%). Of the A-pattern patients, 73.6% had superior oblique muscle overaction, whereas 71.1% of the V-pattern patients had inferior oblique muscle overaction (P < 0.0001, r = 0.71), increasing to 78.6% and 86.3%, respectively, for patients without stereopsis (r = 0.78). Of the patients with fundus intorsion, 78.7% had superior oblique muscle overaction, whereas 74.4% of those with fundus extorsion had inferior oblique muscle overaction (P < 0.0001, r = 0.79), increasing to 83.5% and 82.8%, respectively, for patients without stereopsis (r = 0.82). Fundus intorsion occurred in 76% of the A-pattern patients, whereas fundus extorsion occurred in 71.1% of the V-pattern patients (P < 0.0001, r = 0.73), increasing to 78.6% and 86.3%, respectively, for patients without stereopsis (r = 0.79).

Conclusions: Strong correlations were found between fundus intorsion, superior oblique muscle overaction, and A patterns, and between fundus extorsion, inferior oblique muscle overaction, and V patterns. These correlations increased in patients without stereopsis, suggesting that the presence of binocular fusion can partially interfere with the close correlation of these parameters.