Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07470164

A Randomized Trial of Botulinum Toxin A vs Strabismus Surgery for Esotropia >10 to ≤30PD

Childhood esotropia (ET) is a common cause of visual disability, and its early management is critical for optimal visual and developmental outcomes.

The proposed study addresses a need to evaluate botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) as a less invasive, cost-effective alternative to incisional strabismus surgery. If BTX-A is demonstrated to be non-inferior to incisional strabismus surgery in treating ET >10 to ≤30PD, this could reduce surgical and anesthesia-related risks in infants, lower the economic burden on families and healthcare systems, and reduce disparities in access to care, particularly in underserved settings where surgical resources are limited.

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Age range

4 month–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

About this study

After receiving informed consent, participants with ET >10 to ≤30PD who are otherwise eligible will be randomly assigned to treatment with BTX-A or incisional strabismus surgery; and seen 6 weeks, 6- and 12- months after surgery.

The primary outcome is the cumulative probability of motor alignment success by 12 months. Success is defined as the absence of failure by 12 months.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

  • A constant or intermittent ET needing intervention with BTX-A or surgery in the judgement of the investigator meeting one of the criteria below:

Infantile Esotropia (IET)

  • Onset prior to six months of age by parental history.
  • Angle measuring >10 to ≤ 30 PD by PACT in the primary position at distance fixation on an accommodative target.

Acquired Non-accommodative Esotropia (ANAET)

  • Onset after six months of age by parental history
  • Angle decreases less than 10 PD by PACT in the primary position at distance fixation with hyperopic correction.
  • Residual angle measuring >10 to ≤ 30 PD by SPCT in the primary position at distance fixation on an accommodative target.

Acquired Partially Accommodative Esotropia (APAET)

  • Onset after six months of age by parental history
  • Angle decreases 10 PD or more by PACT in the primary position at distance fixation with correction.
  • Residual angle measuring >10 to ≤ 30 PD by SPCT in the primary position at distance fixation on an accommodative target.
  • Age at enrollment:
  • For IET: > 4 months to <17 years old
  • For ANAET or APAET: >6 months to <17 years old
  • No myopia ≥ 6.00D SE
  • Current Spectacle Correction at Time of Enrollment
  • For IET: No spectacle wear prior to enrollment.
  • For ANAET or APAET: Must be wearing spectacles if significant refractive error as defined below based upon a cycloplegic refraction within 6 months of enrollment. If no significant refractive error, spectacles are at investigator discretion. In either case full hyperopic correction by cycloplegia worn for at least 2 weeks.
  • Requirements for Spectacle Correction (if worn)
  • If myopia is < 6.00D SE, then full CR must be worn for at least 2 weeks.
  • For children < 5 years of age who have significant hyperopic refractive error (CR ≥ +2.50D SE), full hyperopic correction, determined by CR must have been worn for at least 2 weeks.
  • For children ≥ age 5 years, with significant hyperopic refractive error who are unable to tolerate correction of full CR due to blur, then maximally-tolerated hyperopic correction determined both with and without cycloplegia is prescribed and must be worn for at least 2 weeks.
  • For patients who do not have significant hyperopic refractive error (CR < +2.50D SE), whether to prescribe spectacles is at investigator discretion. However, if the investigator elects to prescribe spectacles, the full tolerated hyperopic correction determined with and without cycloplegia must have been worn for at least 2 weeks.
  • Parent or legal guardian available for follow-up, has home phone (or access to phone), and willing to be contacted by Jaeb Center staff
  • Gestational age > 34 weeks
  • Birth weight > 1500 grams
  • No use of atropine within the last two weeks.
  • No history of CNS disease (e.g., IVH, PVL, meningitis, developmental abnormalities of the brain, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy)
  • No significant developmental delay in the investigator's judgment (isolated speech delay excepted)
  • No limitation of abduction consistent with paralytic or restrictive myopathy (minor limitation of abduction due to cross fixation is acceptable)
  • No craniofacial malformation affecting the orbits
  • No prior BTX-A injection for strabismus
  • No prior extraocular muscle surgery or intraocular surgery
  • No structural ocular abnormalities (e.g., media opacity, optic atrophy, optic nerve hypoplasia, retinal detachment)
  • No immediate family member (spouse, biological or legal guardian, child, sibling, parent) who is investigative site personnel directly affiliated with this study or who is an employee of the Jaeb Center for Health Research.

Treatment and study plan

Botulinum toxin A

Drug

BTX-A 4.0 units to each medial rectus

Other names: Botox

bilateral medial rectus recession

Procedure

Graded bilateral medial rectus recession

Other names: BMRrec

Primary outcomes

  1. Motor Alignment Success

    Time frame: 1 Year

    The primary efficacy outcome will be motor alignment success defined as follows:

    • Success is defined as the absence of failure by 1 year.
    • Failure is defined as any of the following post-randomized treatment (BOTOX or SURGERY) up to 1 year:
    • ET at distance (determined by a cover/uncover test) with a magnitude of >10 PD by SPCT at or after the 6-month masked exam.
    • XT at distance at any time during the exam (determined by a cover/uncover test) with a magnitude of > 10 PD by SPCT at or after the 6-month masked exam.
    • Second surgery or injection at any time after the initial surgery/injection through 12 months post-procedure.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

PEDIG Protocol Monitor

CONTACT

[email protected]

813-975-8690

Raymond T Kraker, MSPH

CONTACT

[email protected]

813-975-8690

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Jaeb Center for Health Research

Other

Collaborators

  • National Eye Institute (NEI)
  • Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group

Registry information

Acronym: ETS4

Important dates

Study start
2027
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2030
First posted
Mar 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.