Gender-based analysis of visual and refractive characteristics in exotropia.
Male sex is linked to higher odds of amblyopia in intermittent exotropia.
Gender-based analysis of visual and refractive characteristics in exotropia.
To analyze gender-based differences in visual acuity, refractive error, angle of deviation, and amblyopia in patients with alternate exotropia (Alt XT) and intermittent exotropia (IXT).
A retrospective study of 4,417 surgical exotropia patients (2,970 Alt XT; 1,447 IXT) compared sex-based differences in CDVA, refraction, deviation angles, and amblyopia within each subtype.
males with intermittent exotropia checked more likely to have amblyopia
CDVA and spherical equivalent did not differ by sex in either subtype.
In adjusted models, sex was not associated with right-eye logMAR CDVA in Alt XT (B = 0.005; p = 0.814) or IXT (B = 0.005; p = 0.506).
Sex was associated with a small difference in distance deviation magnitude in Alt XT (B = 1.33 prism diopters; p = 0.018) but not in IXT (p = 0.114).
Gender-specific differences were observed in astigmatism, deviation magnitude, age at surgery, and amblyopia patterns across exotropia subtypes.
After adjustment, sex remained associated with distance deviation in Alt XT and amblyopia prevalence in IXT, but not with CDVA in either subtype.
Overall, sex appears to be a relevant clinical variable in exotropia and should be considered in assessment and future research.