comparison of anchored with conventional hang-back techniques in bilateral lateral rectus recession in patients with exotropia

purpose: to compare the results of conventional hang-back technique (chbt) with that of anchored hang-back technique (ahbt) for bilateral lateral rectus (lr) recession in patients with exotropia. methods: in this randomized clinical trial, 60 patients underwent chbt (group 1) or ahbt (group 2) for lr recession (30 patients in each group). preoperative and postoperative deviation, age, sex, the amount of recession and complications were compared between the two groups during follow up. results: mean age was 14.2±10.3 (3-42) and 11.5±9.3 (3-42) years in groups 1 and 2, respectively. mean preoperative distance and near deviation in group one were 35±7.0 pd and 34.6±6.8 pd; corresponding figures in group two were 34.6±7.1 pd and 33.3±7.7 pd, respectively. mean postoperative deviation at near and distance were 8 ± 9.4 pd and 7.2±9.1 pd in group one and 8.7±7.8 pd and 8.1±7.5 pd in group two, respectively (p=0.48 and 0.98 for distance and near). at final examination, 63.3% of subjects in group one and 60% of cases in group two were within 10 pd of orthophoria. serious complications including globe perforation, a and v patterns and vertical deviations were not observed. there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of success rate (p=0.79) and complications. conclusion: the success rate of both chbt and ahbt for lateral rectus recession are comparable and favorable in patients with exotropia.