How safe is Strabismus surgery?

Like many other ophthalmic procedures, strabismus surgery is very safe and effective, but complications can occur and need to be diagnosed and treated early to optimize post-operative outcome. Generally, complications of strabismus surgery have an excellent prognosis for recovery with proper treatment.

What is the success rate of strabismus surgery?

Surgery for horizontal strabismus reportedly has a success rate of 60%–80%.

Is strabismus surgery a risk?

Overall, strabismus surgery is very low risk, technically very straightforward and extremely safe as we are operating on the surface of the eye rather than inside the eye. This information is not meant to alarm you, but to inform you. Infection is a risk of any surgery, but it is very rare in strabismus surgery.

How often does strabismus surgery fail?

Adults undergoing successful strabismus surgery typically experience profound improvement in HRQOL. Nevertheless, some patients fail to show such improvement (11% to 17% in this study), and there are few previous studies exploring reasons for this lack of improvement in HRQOL.

What happens if strabismus surgery goes wrong?

Risks of Strabismus (Eye Muscle) Surgery:

The most common risk to strabismus surgery is partial or complete failure to correct the condition and/or its effects, including associated symptoms such as double vision.

What are the risks of eye muscle surgery?

Can strabismus get worse after surgery?

In general, the more muscles requiring surgery and the performance of reoperations (previous eye or strabismus surgery) will increase the degree of discomfort.

How painful is strabismus surgery?

Your child may have some mild pain and swelling around the eye. But the pain and swelling should go away after a few days. Your child should be able to do most of their usual activities in a day or two. Make sure that your child goes to all follow-up visits so the doctor can be sure that the surgery fixed the eye.

Does strabismus surgery last forever?

In fact, most patients require just one corrective surgery over a lifetime. If it does come back, it's usually possible for a skilled specialist to again reposition the muscles and restore the benefits of straight eyes for the patient.

How long does it take for eyes to align after strabismus surgery?

Postoperative Strabismus/diplopia: It takes approximately 6 weeks for the eyes to heal and gain their full function; therefore a lot of eye alignment changes take place during this time. Must allow a full 6 weeks before the outcome of the surgery can be accurately assessed.

Can strabismus be corrected without surgery?

Vision Therapy — strabismus treatment without surgery; with or without corrective lenses — is the most effective and non-invasive treatment for Strabismus. In a Vision Therapy program, eye exercises, lenses, and/or other therapy activities are used to treat the brain and nervous system which control the eye muscles.

Should my child have strabismus surgery?

Strabismus surgery can be performed in children as young as four months of age and is an important option for older children and adults as well. It's better to perform surgery as early as possible, because the brain circuits for binocular vision (using the two eyes together) are most adaptable at a young age.

What can you not do after strabismus surgery?

Avoid strenuous activity, such as lifting or contact sports for 14 days following surgery. Sleep with your head elevated on 2 to 3 pillows for 5 to 7 days to reduce pain and swelling. Avoid swimming and activities in which sand or dirt may enter the eye for 14 days. There are no restrictions on reading or watching TV.

Does strabismus get worse with age?

The risk of adult strabismus increases with age, so the condition can reappear when a person gets older. “Unfortunately, as we age, our eye muscles do not function as well as they did in the past,” says Dr. Howard. “We call that decompensation.”

Is strabismus surgery expensive?

On average, strabismus surgery costs between $5,000 and $10,000. Severe or complex cases, such as when corrections need to be made from a prior surgery, may garner higher costs.

Can I drive after strabismus surgery?

There is no hard and fast rule for this. You should return to driving only when you feel comfortable with your eyes and vision. For those who undergo relatively small surgeries, perhaps involving only one eye muscle on one eye, for example, you may feel comfortable enough very quickly, perhaps within a day or two.

What is the recovery time for eye muscle surgery?

Your child may return to normal daily activities, but should not participate in gym class, swimming, or other sports or physical activities for at least 2 weeks after the surgery. Your doctor will need to see your child again for a check-up in approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery.

What does your eye look like after strabismus surgery?

The surface of your eye will likely appear bright red for a while after strabismus surgery. This redness is essentially a bruise. Since blood is closer to the surface of the eye, bruising is typically a brighter color.

How long do you stay in hospital after strabismus surgery?

Unless there are unexpected complications, there is no reason for you to need to stay in the hospital overnight. The procedure itself is generally over within an hour or two; however, the patient can expect to remain in the hospital for several hours for preoperative care and postoperative recovery.

How do you wash your hair after strabismus surgery?

Hair washing is fine as long as shampoo is kept out of the eyes (including no-tears shampoo). Eye Rubbing: Most children will not rub their eyes after surgery because this hurts. However, if your child is an eye-rubber, watch him and stop eye rubbing for 2-3 days after surgery.

Can you go blind from strabismus?

Strabismus is a common condition that causes the eyes to look in different directions when focusing. It usually presents itself in early childhood, but can also occur later on in life. If not detected and treated early, it can have a detrimental and permanent effect on vision - potentially leading to blindness.

Can LASIK fix strabismus?

LASIK will not correct or impact an individual's eye muscle length and strength, but it can help with eye conditions that are caused by severe refractive errors. For example, if a person is experiencing strabismus due to years of uncorrected farsightedness, LASIK could potentially be used to treat the refractive error.

What age can you get strabismus surgery?

In the United States, surgery for infantile strabismus is now generally performed at an early age (age 1–2), whereas in Europe many eye clinics still operate late (age 4–5). The main argument for early surgery is that binocular vision can be restored if the child is operated early enough.

Does strabismus surgery affect vision?

While all surgical procedures carry a risk, the risks associated with strabismus surgery, including infection, bleeding, or excessive scarring, are low. The main risk of strabismus surgery involves under correction or overcorrection. Complications that lead to vision loss are very rare.

How successful is strabismus surgery in adults?

In fact, most adult patients with strabismus can be successfully treated, with ∼80% of patients achieving satisfactory alignment with one surgical procedure. In addition, adult strabismus surgery carries a relatively low risk, with serious complications being anecdotal and rare.

Is strabismus a disability?

Is strabismus a disability? Having a squint is not usually considered a disability unless it significantly affects how you go about day to day life. Childhood strabismus that isn't treated can lead to a lazy eye, with vision loss in the affected eye.