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What is Squint Surgery?
Squint surgery is eye muscle repair surgery carried out to correct a squint in the eye, a condition otherwise known as strabismus, cross-eye or lazy-eye. In some cases, strabismus can only be effectively treated with surgery.
Squint surgery aims to eliminate double vision, improve three-dimensional vision and improve the abnormal posture of the head. Squint surgery is usually carried out on children but may be done on adults.
How is Squint Surgery carried out?
- During squint surgery the surgeon makes a fine cut in the tissue covering the eye and locates the eye muscles needing correction.
- The surgeon strengthens and weakens the muscles in the eye by removing muscle or tendon and reattaching muscle further back in the eye.
- Dissolvable stitches are used so that minor adjustments to the squint surgery can be carried out when the patient is fully awake.
Duration of procedure/surgery:Squint surgery takes 1 to 2 hours to complete.
Days admitted:Squint surgery usually takes place on an outpatient basis with no overnight stay.
Anesthesia:Children, and most adults, receive a general anesthesia for squint surgery although it is possible to use local anesthesia.
Recovery:- You will be able to go home after a few hours of recovery following squint surgery.
- Most people can return to work or normal activities 2 to 3 days after squint surgery.
- The eye may remain red or bloodshot for up to 3 weeks after squint surgery, after which the eye will look normal.
Risks:- Temporary double vision.
- Permanent double vision (rare).
- Lost muscle, where the eye muscle recoils behind the eyeball.
- Perforation of the outer coating (sclera) of the eye.
- Retinal detachment (very rare).
After care:- Use prescribed eye drops or ointment for a few weeks after squint surgery.
- Take pain killers for any minor discomfort.
- Avoid rubbing the eyes for the first few days after squint surgery.
- Don’t go swimming for two to three weeks following squint surgery.
Learn more about Squint Surgery