Surgical treatment of Duane's syndrome.

Nineteen patients undergoing treatment for Duane's syndrome are reported. The patients were treated with appropriate horizontal muscle recession in order to relieve abnormal head position or a significant tropia in primary position. Success rate in eliminating the abnormal head position was 79% while 100% were significantly improved. No overcorrections occurred despite large recessions. Retraction in adduction was reduced in each case. Motility of the eye was not increased following recession and in no case was fusion ability or stereopsis affected. The elimination of abnormal head position appears to be stable for periods up to 8.75 years. Postoperatively, patients obtained approximately 30 degrees of binocular visual field including primary position. Other surgical techniques in treating Duane's syndrome are discussed.