Curable forms of childhood strabismus

Background: The literature on the management of childhood strabismus emphasizes some subtypes while ignoring others, based upon the experience of the author or the popularity of the topic, and are often from single‐institution, tertiary‐care referral centers. The purpose of this study is to review which forms of childhood strabismus are potentially curable. Methods: This overview identified surgically curable forms of strabismus, defined as a life‐long result of orthotropia to small angle strabismus with > 50 seconds or better of stereoacuity and normal ocular motility. Results: Children with a developmental disorder, sensory strabismus, convergence insufficiency, dissociated strabismus and Browns syndrome were excluded. Curable forms of childhood strabismus included some children with partial sixth nerve palsy, accommodative and acquired nonaccommodative estropia and, in rare instances, a small percentage of children with intermittent exotropia. Conclusions: In declining order, some children with partial sixth nerve palsy, accommodative esotropia, acquired nonaccommodative esotropia, and only a handful with intermittent exotropia, can be said to be curable forms of childhood strabismus.