About Strabismus Surgery
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What is Strabismus Surgery?
Strabismus surgery is eye muscle surgery to correct the alignment of the eyes. Strabismus surgery strengthens and weakens eye muscles to achieve correct double vision or a squint.
What are the types of Strabismus Surgery?
The most common Strabismus Surgery procedures are:
- Recession: The surgeon weakens the eye muscle in this procedure. To access the eye muscle, the surgeon makes a small cut in the tissue of the eye. The surgeon cuts the eye muscle and repositions it farther back into the eye.
- Resection: The surgeon strengthens the eye muscle. The surgeon makes a small cut in the tissue of the eye. A short section of the eye muscle is removed and the shortened muscle is attached back to the eye.
- Adjustable suture: In this procedure, an adjustable suture is used to attach the eye muscle in a new place on the wall of the eye. Adjustments are made to the eye alignment when the patient is fully awake with the eye numbed.
Duration of procedure/surgery : 20 minutes to 1 hour.
Number of sessions required : Often one operation will be enough to achieve permanent success, but sometimes further procedures are needed following initial surgery.
Days admitted : Almost all patents leave the hospital or clinic the same day.
Anesthesia : Strabismus surgery is carried out under general anesthesia although local anesthesia is sometimes used for adults.
Recovery : - Soreness may persist for up to 3 hours following strabismus surgery and the eyes may stay red for a few weeks.
- Patients can usually return to normal activities 2 to 3 days after strabismus surgery.
- The final outcome of the surgery is usually apparent 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.
Risks : - Unsatisfactory alignment of the eyes (over and under correction).
- Double vision.
- Infection.
- Loss of vision (very rare).
After care : - Treat moderate pain with painkillers.
- Use antibiotic or medicated eye drops, if prescribed, to lessen the chances of infection.
- Avoid swimming for several days following strabismus surgery.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses for two weeks.
- There may be a small change in glasses prescription following strabismus surgery.
Learn more about Strabismus