Esodeviation without correction for tapering hyperopia in refractive accommodative esotropia

Objective: To investigate clinical features for prescription of tapered hyperopia in patients with refractive accommodative esotropia (RAET). Methods: The clinical features in patients with RAET who began tapering of hyperopia were analyzed. Within a range that can sustain corrected visual acuity and stereoacuity, patients were prescribed for tapered hyperopic correction by 0.25-diopters (D) interval, up to a maximum of 1.0 D. At every visit, visual acuity and esodeviation with and without correction, amount of tapered hyperopia, and near stereoacuity were measured. Results: One hundred and six patients were enrolled in this study. The follow-up period was 3.1 ± 0.2 years and frequency of visits was 6.3 ± 0.6. Tapering hyperopia was initiated at 6.1 ± 2.9 years, and baseline refraction was 7.6 ± 1.5 D. The esodeviation without correction was 24.3 ± 8.5 prism diopters (PD), and median near stereoacuity was 400 arc sec. The median amount of tapered hyperopia at visit was 0.5 D. At the final visit, there were no significant deteriorations in visual acuity, esodeviation with correction, or near stereoacuity (p > 0.05, all). The amount of tapered hyperopia was positively correlated with correction and the reduced esodeviation without correction (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Esodeviation without correction should be considered for tapering hyperopia for patients with RAET. Esodeviation without correction can be easily measured, and its decline may be used as a clinical indicator for tapering hyperopia.