AIM:To review the condition of near stereopsis of orthotopic children before and 6 months after the operation of intermittent exotropia and to further study the appropriate opportunity for the intermittent exotropia operation on children. METHODS: A total of 78 cases of orthotopic children (aged 4-8) before and 6 months after the intermittent exotropia operation were reviewed and divided into 3 groups: stereopsis in central macular fovea, stereopsis in the macular, and stereopsis at the edge of the fovea. The binocular near stereopsis was analyzed in the preoperative orthotopic control and 6 months after operation. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 12 cases with stereopsis in central macular fovea, the average stereopsis was 55.28±15.43″. 56 cases with stereopsis in the macular, the average stereopsis was 197.55±20.72″. 10 cases with stereopsis at the edge of the fovea, the average stereopsis was 612.29±75.48″. Postoperatively, the stereo acuity of the cases with stereopsis in central macular fovea stayed unchanged and the average stereopsis was 41.94±11.56″. No cases with stereopsis in central macular fovea got restored. The stereo acuity of 16 cases with stereopsis in the macular was restored and those of the rest improved to different extents, the average stereopsis was 170.04±16.47″. The stereo acuity of 2 cases of stereopsis at the edge of the fovea was restored and those of the rest improved to some extent, the average stereopsis was 506.40±62.53″.CONCLUSION: Before the intermittent exotropia operation was performed, the near stereopsis of children with intermittent exotropia was mostly damaged. To some extent, although the operation can help restore the near stereopsis, few cases with stereopsis in central macular fovea can get restored. When the requirements are met, early operation is beneficial to restore binocular stereopsis. 