Purpose  

To report the occurrence of cyclic exotropia in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa.

Methods  

A 31-year-old man presented with cyclic exotropia of the left eye of 4 years duration that alternated every 24 h. A detailed ophthalmologic examination was performed.

Results  

The patient showed an orthotropia and a comitant left exotropia of 30 prism diopters at distance and 25 prism diopters at near in the primary position on an exotropic day with a cycle of 48 h. A fundoscopic examination showed bone spicule formation and arteriolar narrowing, and electroretinography showed no response in either eye. A Goldmann visual field examination showed a central island in both eyes.

Conclusions  

Cyclic exotropia may occur in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, an association that to the best of our knowledge has not been previously reported in the English ophthalmic literature. Cyclic exotropia is an unusual association with retinitis pigmentosa.