Editorial
What we have to do is to be for ever curiously testing new opinions and courting new impressions.Walter Plater
The yearly publication of the American Orthoptic Journal absolutely validates the scientific endeavors of those who are "curiously testing new opinions and courting new impressions, " in regards to the management and treatment of ocular motility and visual development.
Current Concepts and Controversies in Strabismus Management was the topic for this year's Sunday Symposium at the joint meeting of the American Orthoptic Council, the American Association of Certified Orthoptists and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held last Fall in San Francisco, California. We addressed four strabismus disorders which are commonly encountered in every general ophthalmology practice, and we feel fortunate to have this year's symposium published in the AOJ in its entirety.
When discussing the management and treatment of unilateral amblyopia, convergence excess esotropia, intermittent exotropia and dissociated vertical deviation, it is important for us all to continue to test new opinions. Although our treatment strategies may vary, I think we can all uniformly agree that none of us have found the perfect cure for any of these challenging disorders.
In this issue we explore both sides of several debatable viewpoints. Is pharmacologic penalization as effective in the treatment of unilateral amblyopia as occlusion therapy.? Is preoperative prism adaptation really necessary in the treatment of convergence excess esotropia, or can a surgeon simply augment the surgical amounts? Are orthoptic exercises indicated for patients with intermittent exotropia or is surgical alignment all that is needed?
In a competitive climate focused on cost containment for medical treatment, it is essential that we continue to promote and provide supportive evidence that there is an important role for the orthoptist in the management of these difficult patients. We applaud the concerted effort being made by the American Orthoptic Council to raise the level of awareness amongst Ophthalmologists as to how an orthoptist can complement their practice.
Jill T. Clark, C.O.
President
American Association of Certified Orthoptists
© 1998 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System