WHAT IS STRABISMUS/ SQUINT AND HOW IS IT TREATED?
Eyes that point in different directions (not lined up correctly) have a condition called strabismus. The problem may be present at all times (constant) or may only appear at certain times, such as when the eyes are tired (intermittent). Some children are born with crossed eyes, others develop strabismus during childhood. Left untreated, these patients suffer from a loss of binocular vision and stereopsis, which means that the two eyes do not work together as they should to provide depth perception. There can even be a loss of central vision called amblyopia or lazy eye-if the strabismus is left untreated. Strabismus in adults is usually the result of progressive, untreated, or unsuccessfully treated childhood strabismus. Sometimes, strabismus develops in adults following an injury or illness and causes double vision.
HOW WILL THE STRABISMUS SURGERY AFFECT MY VISION AND CONDITION?
During strabismus surgery, the surgeon will realign or straighten the eyes by tightening or loosening the eye muscles on the outside of the eye. The eyes are not removed from the eye socket. Realigning the eyes helps them to work together, and may also improve the appearance.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR RISKS OF STRABISMUS SURGERY?
Surgery has risks. Sometimes it doesn’t work, sometimes it can make the problem worse. Sometimes surgery leads to a new problem, called a complication. Complications can happen right away or days, months, or years later. Doctors do not always know which complication might happen. Sometimes what seems to be a complication from the surgery is really caused by a disease in the eye or other body part. The risk for complications is different for each person, and depends upon how long you have had strabismus, whether you have already had surgery for strabismus, how well you heal, whether you have diseases of the eye or other parts of the body, and your medications. This document will help you decide whether you are ready to accept the risks of strabismus surgery by listing the major risks; there are others that are not listed here.
Need for additional surgeries. lt takes at least two months for the results of the operation to stabilize. lf the misalignment persists, you may need one or more surgeries to correct it. Each person’s eye responds differently to a given amount of muscle adjustment, and the brain must adapt to and keep the alignment.
Persistent misalignment, altered eyelid position, limitation of eye movements. The eye may not be straight after the surgery, and movement may be limited.
Persistent visual problems. The surgery may not correct long-standing visual problems from strabismus or the cause of strabismus. Glasses and/or prisms may still need to be worn after surgery.
Double vision. Many patients experience double vision while the brain adapts to the new alignment. The double vision usually disappears in a few days in children, and 1 to 2 weeks in young adults; in some patients, it may persist even longer, come back, or be permanent. Patients can usually learn to ignore one of the images. lf not, prism glasses may be prescribed to treat the double vision.
Scar tissue formation.
infection. Mild infections are treated with antibiotics. Severe infections are rare, but may result in vision loss or even loss of the eye.
Hemorrhage or bleeding. Severe hemorrhage is rare, but could cause injury to the eye or vision loss.
Allergic reaction to the medications or surgical material.
Temporary side effects, such as corneal abrasion, a scratch on the eye’s surface; conjunctivitis, redness of the surface of the eye, which usually lasts for about two weeks; eye ache, which may he tor 24 to 48 hours. Pain that is more severe should be reported to your eye surgeon.
