AIM: To observe the effect of pressing triple prism in correcting residual compensatory head posture in postoperative congenital nystagrnus children.

METHODS: From March 2007 to October 2012, 28 congenital nystagrnus children with residual compensatory head posture after surgery including 19 males and 9 females were admitted to our department. The average age of these children was 8.7 years old, ranging from 4 to 20. All of them were treated by pressing triple prism. Improvement of vision and compensatory head posture were used to evaluate the efficacy during the follow up.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven children adhere to follow-up. One child failed to follow-up. 1)Symptoms: most children did not complain visual distortion, dizziness when wearing glasses. Comfort rate was reaching 96%(26/27). 2)Visual improvement: vision rose from(0.5±0.3)to(0.6±0.2)after wearing glasses, however, the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05). 3)Improvement of compensatory head posture: compensatory head posture was decreased after wearing glasses, from(9.6±2.2)° to(5.7 ± 2.2)° with significantly difference(P<0.05). Among them, 18 children(67%)had almost disappearance of residual compensatory head(<5°), 8(30%)had improvement(5°～10°). The improvement rate was 96%(26/27).

CONCLUSION: Pressing triple prism is an effective way to cure residual compensatory head posture after congenital nystagmus surgery.