Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes or turned eyes, occurs when the eyes aren’t properly aligned and one eye points in a different direction to the other. People with strabismus may find that their eyes are always misaligned or it may happen intermittently.
Surgery can correct eye alignment, remove the eyes’ uneven appearance, improve vision and boost self-confidence. If you are concerned that either you or your child has a problem with eye alignment, schedule an appointment with at LOCATION1 today.
What Is Strabismus?
Strabismus is characterized by a person’s two eyes pointing in different directions. The eye turn can occur all the time or can come and go, depending on the child’s tiredness or other factors. Strabismus can interfere with a child’s performance in school and sports and can impact their self-assurance.
People who have strabismus may find that one of their eyes can have the following misalignment positions:
- Inward (esotropia or “crossed eyes”)
- Outward (exotropia or “wall-eyed”)
- Upward (hypertropia)
- Downward (hypotropia)
There are two main types of Strabismus:
- Large-angle strabismus – the misalignment of the eyes is extreme and easily observed
- Small-angle strabismus – the misalignment is small and more subtle
If untreated, either form of this condition can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye) caused by the misaligned eye being “shut off” by the brain to avoid double vision. This can result in permanent vision loss in that eye.
What Are the Causes of Strabismus?
Strabismus occurs when any of the six external (extraocular) muscles controlling the position and movement of the eye are not performing correctly. The source of the problem can be, in the muscles themselves, the optic nerves or in the functioning of the vision centers of the brain.
Accommodative esotropia occurs when a farsighted child’s eyes need to work excessively to see clearly, causing one eye to turn inward and their eyes to become crossed. Eyeglasses or contact lenses are the most frequently used options to treat this problem.
What Exactly Is Strabismus Surgery?
Strabismus surgery (also known as extraocular muscle surgery, eye muscle surgery, or eye alignment surgery) corrects eyes that are not properly aligned by loosening or tightening eye muscles.
There are 2 main types of strabismus surgeries:
- Recession and Resection
- Adjustable Suture
In recession surgery, the surgeon detaches and re-attaches an external muscle onto the eye to correct the alignment. For instance, if one of the muscles is too strong, the ophthalmologist will detach that muscle and surgically reattach it farther back in the eye (recession). Repositioning the muscles on the eye creates balanced strength and proper alignment.
For resection surgery, the doctor shortens the actual eye muscle and then reattaches it to the eyeball at its original position. Resection surgery is used when an eye muscle is underperforming, and by shortening the eye muscle length the misalignment is corrected.
Adjustable suture can be performed after a recession or resection surgery and involves affixing the sutures that hold the eye in position. Adjustable suture is usually done only with those who developed strabismus in adulthood, and who have depth perception and the ability to focus closely on an object.
An eye surgeon will use general or local anesthesia and will perform the surgery in an operating room.
Following the operation, the ophthalmologist will examine the eyes’ alignment and may adjust the sutures as needed. These adjustments can cause some discomfort, but once they are completed, the sutures are fastened permanently in place.
Your LOCATION1 ophthalmologist will apply antibiotic or antibiotic/steroid drops or ointment at the end of the surgery to promote optimal healing.
What Is the Expected Recovery from Strabismus Surgery?
Expect some eye redness and soreness after strabismus surgery. The corner of your eye (where the surgery took place) may be bright red. You may also feel like something is stuck in your eye. These sensations and the redness should subside and you can resume normal activities within a few days.
Your eyes may begin to properly align shortly after surgery, but the long-term success of the procedure is often established 4-6 weeks after the operation.
Lazy Eye Surgery in LOCATION1
If you or a loved one has strabismus, we can help. To learn more or to see whether strabismus surgery is the right option for you, book a consultation with one of our ophthalmologists by contacting in LOCATION1 today.