The pursuit of stereopsis

Background: Pediatric ophthalmologists are increasingly expected to promote, preserve, and restore binocular vision.

Methods: Clinical studies on restoring alignment and stereopsis in the management of amblyopia, esotropia, exotropia, and complex strabismus are reviewed from the perspective of the author's published work and personal experiences.

Results: Treatment of amblyopia by means of optical rehabilitation, occlusion, or penalization has been reinforced by medical treatment and perceptual training with monocular or binocular video games. Studies indicate that early management of esotropia and alignment within 8^Δ is required for regaining stereopsis. In the surgical management of intermittent exotropia, distance stereopsis by Frisby Davis Distance stereotest can predict better stereopsis, with patients having preoperative distance stereopsis of <70 arcsec less likely to improve after surgery. The surgeon's armamentarium for correcting alignment and restoring binocular vision include procedures such as adjustable, partial vertical rectus muscle transposition in cases of exotropic Duane syndrome and lateral rectus palsy, periosteal fixation of the globe or of the lateral rectus muscle, and medial transposition of the split lateral rectus muscle.

Conclusions: The goal for present-day strabismologists is not merely to correct strabismus but also to achieve alignment of eyes in time to ensure normal development of stereopsis in children and to restore alignment and stereopsis in adults.