Strabismus Correction
Strabismus surgery is eye muscle surgery to treat crossed eyes (strabismus). This procedure makes your eye muscles either tighter or looser and aligns the position of your eyes so they're centered and can work together.About 5% of the population has strabismus. If your eyes are misaligned, and other treatments haven't worked, an eye care provider may suggest strabismus surgery. Most often, children have strabismus surgery, but adults can have it, too.
You may need eye muscle surgery if you have:
- Exotropia: One or both of your eyes turn outward toward your ears.- Esotropia: One or both of your eyes turn inward toward your nose.- Hypertropia: One eye turns upward as compared to your other eye.- Hypotropia: One eye turns downward as compared to your other eye.- Stroke: Sometimes, you may develop eye problems after a stroke.- Nystagmus: This is the term for an eye that wiggles or moves erratically.
Are there different types of strabismus eye surgery?
You can have strabismus surgery on one or both eyes. Bilateral strabismus surgery is the term for when you have the surgery on both eyes.- Resection is the term for making the muscle shorter by cutting it.- Plication is the term for making the muscle shorter by folding it over.- Recession is the term for moving the muscle back to make it less tight.- You may have adjustable surgery, where a provider can adjust the muscle sutures to correct for remaining misalignment in the recovery area or clinic soon after strabismus surgery in the operating room.
What happens before strabismus surgery?
Before surgery, your provider will want to know:- Your medical history, including past and current medical conditions and procedures.- If you have a history of prior eye muscle surgery, they’ll want to review your past operative reports.- What medicines and supplements you take, especially any blood thinners.- If you or any other person in your family has had any issues with anesthesia.- If you have any allergies to medications.At your pre-anesthesia visit, the provider will tell you when to stop eating and drinking before surgery. Usually, you're not supposed to take anything by mouth after midnight. They'll also tell you if you need to stop taking any of your medications before the surgery.
What happens during strabismus surgery?
You'll get medicine through a vein, or intravenously (IV). All children and most adults will get general anesthesia. Some adults may get eye numbing and light sedation. Other things you can expect include:- Your surgical team will monitor your vital signs during the procedure.- Your surgical team will use an eye speculum to hold your eye open.- Your surgeon will cut into the outer white covering of your eye (conjunctiva).- Your surgeon will pull up the muscles that need surgery with a hook. They'll then move the muscle as needed.- Your surgeon will attach the muscles and close your eye with stitches (sutures) that dissolve.- A member of the team will take away the speculum and put eye drops or ointment into your eye.- The surgery takes anywhere from about 30 minutes to two hours.
What happens after strabismus surgery?
You'll go to a recovery room after surgery. Your team will keep monitoring your vital signs until you go home.A responsible adult will need to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours. You may need to rest and take it easy for up to a week.Your provider will prescribe eye drops or ointment for you to take at home.Your provider may recommend acetaminophen, or sometimes oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, for pain.