Vestibulo-ocular reflex evaluation of the children with acquired esotropia

This study aims to evaluate the effects of acquired esotropia on vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain in children using video (vHIT) and functional head impulse (fHIT) tests. A total of 62 children aged 6–18 years, with acquired esotropia and normal vision, were evaluated in the study. The patients were divided into two sub-groups: accommodative and non-accommodative. VOR gains were analyzed by performing lateral canal vHIT and fHIT with monocular and binocular recordings by a single examiner. Seventeen (10 male, 7 female) children with accommodative esotropia, 24 (14 male, 10 female) children with non-accommodative esotropia, and 21 (8 male and 12 female) healthy controls were included in this study. The vHIT findings did not differ between the groups (p˃.05). In the non-accommodative esotropia group, the location of the camera in both binocular and monocular vHIT recordings made a significant difference in the left VOR gain (p = .025, z = −2.243, p = .032, and z = −2.143, respectively), but no difference was observed in the right VOR gain. In the accommodative esotropia group, while the camera was on the left there was a significant difference in the right VOR gain between binocular and monocular recordings (p = .016, z = −2.413) but no difference was observed in the left VOR gain. No overt or covert saccade was detected in any group. The statistical differences found in vHIT and fHIT in acquired esotropia patients are thought to be sporadic and based on the results of this study no correction or change in recording technique is required for vHIT or fHIT in children with acquired esotropia. •Video and functional head impulse tests can be performed with standard methods in children with acquired esotropia.