Strabismus, also called “crossed eyes” or “lazy eye,” is a condition that affects how the eyes line up. It can cause physical pain and emotional stress for the person going through it. Strabismus surgery is a common way to fix misaligned eyes and get back to normal two-eye vision.
This article goes into detail about strabismus surgery, including what it is, how to get ready for it, how it is done, and what to expect before and after the surgery.
Understanding Strabismus
Strabismus happens when the eyes don't line up and point in different directions. This makes one eye look off, turned in (esotropia), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia), or down (hypotropia). It can be there from birth or develop later in life because of things like muscle imbalance, problems with the nervous system, trauma, or genetics. Strabismus can cause double vision, problems with depth perception, and vision loss if it is not treated.
Why Strabismus Surgery Is Needed
Strabismus that isn't too bad can be treated without surgery with things like vision therapy, eye patches, and corrective lenses. But strabismus surgery may be recommended in more serious cases or when other treatments don't work well enough.
The main goals of surgery for strabismus are to realign the eyes and bring back binocular vision, which lets both eyes work well together. The goal of the procedure is to get the eye muscles to work together in a way that improves the patient's vision and overall quality of life.
Getting Ready for Surgery on Strabismus
Before having surgery for strabismus, an ophthalmologist or a pediatric ophthalmologist gives the eyes a full checkup. This evaluation looks at how straight the patient's eyes are, how well they can see, and how healthy their eyes are overall.
The surgeon will talk to the patient and their family about the surgery, any possible risks, and what the expected results will be. Before the surgery, it's important to talk about any worries and fully understand what will happen.
How Surgery for Strabismus Works
Surgery for strabismus is usually done as an outpatient procedure while the patient is under general anesthesia. In the surgery, the tension of the eye muscles is changed so that the eyes are in the right place. The technique used depends on what kind of strabismus it is and how bad it is.
During the surgery, the surgeon makes small cuts in the thin membrane that covers the white part of the eye (the conjunctiva) to get to the eye muscles. Then, to fix the misalignment of the eyes, the surgeon changes the length and position of the muscles that are involved. The cuts are closed with stitches that dissolve on their own, so they don't have to be taken out later.
Depending on what needs to be done before and after the surgery, the surgery itself usually takes between one and two hours.
Recovery and Care After Surgery
After surgery for strabismus, the person is closely watched in a recovery area until they are ready to go home the same day. Doctors may give you eye drops or ointments to prevent infection and ease pain.
In the first few days after surgery, it's normal for patients to feel some mild swelling, redness, or discomfort in their eyes. Using cold packs and taking painkillers as prescribed can help relieve these symptoms.
Read Cellulite Surgery Before and After: Understanding the Pros, Cons, and Realistic Expectations
It is very important to carefully follow the surgeon's instructions after surgery. At first, you should limit things like reading, watching TV, and using screens so that your eyes can heal well.
What to Expect – Before and After
Surgery for strabismus doesn't always work right away. Some people may have temporary overcorrection or under-correction at first, but this usually gets better as the eyes heal and adjust. It could take a few weeks to a few months for your eyes to heal and stay in the right place.
Strabismus surgery can often fix misaligned eyes, leading to better eye coordination, depth perception, and overall visual function. Restoring the patient's binocular vision can make a big difference in their quality of life by letting them do things that were hard before.
But it's important to keep realistic expectations, since some patients may need follow-up treatments or more surgeries to get the best results.
