Answers to common questions about strabismus (eye muscle) surgery

Here is a short video with the answers to the following eight questions that patients and parents most commonly ask about strabismus surgery.

1. What are you actually doing in eye muscle surgery?

2. Is eye muscle surgery done under general anesthesia?

3. What’s the recovery like after eye muscle surgery?

4. Will I need to wear a patch after strabismus surgery?

5. What is the success rate of strabismus surgery?

6. Is strabismus surgery covered by insurance?

7. Do you have to take the eyeball out during strabismus surgery?

8. How old is too old, or too young, to have strabismus surgery?

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What's the recovery like after strabismus surgery?

Strabismus surgery, or eye muscle surgery to realign the eyes, is done on an outpatient basis, so patients are able to go home an hour or two after the surgery is done.

Because strabismus surgery is done under general anesthesia, patients will be fairly groggy afterward, and must have someone with them to drive them home.

There are a few things that are normal symptoms to have after surgery, including:

• Red eyes, typically lasting a week or two

• Eye pain, which is usually mild and improves within a few days

• Blurry vision

• Eye discharge, which may be yellow, red, or even light green sometimes!

• Double vision, which is not unusual during the first few weeks of the healing process, especially for adults

Symptoms that are not expected, and should prompt a phone call, include:

• Severe eye pain not responsive to ice packs or oral pain medication

• Swelling of the eyelids that is so severe the patient can't open their eyes

• Worsening redness

• Vision that continues to get worse

Most patients do very well after strabismus surgery, and need only a few days off from school or work. Plan on seeing me in the office a week after your surgery to check to make sure your eyes are healing normally, and then again six weeks later to assess the outcome of the surgery.

When is strabismus surgery needed?

For patients both young and old with eye misalignment, or strabismus, surgery can often be performed.

Some reasons to perform strabismus surgery include the following:

This child has a dissociated vertical deviation (DVD), a type of strabismus in which one eye will periodically drift upward, while the other eye stays put. Surgery can be curative.

1. To help the eyes work together and promote the development of good binocular vision, or depth perception. This is most important for young children, during the critical period of visual development that occurs in the first few years of life.
2. To eliminate double vision. This is usually more of a concern for adults, as children with strabismus typically ignore the second image and don't have double vision.
3. To minimize any abnormal head turn or tilt that a patient might prefer, either consciously or subconsciously, to try to minimize their strabismus. These abnormal head postures, if present chronically, can become physically and socially disabling.
4. To improve the ability to interact with others. There is an unfair stigma that often exists in society with regard to people with eye misalignment. I love helping people get their eyes straight, not only because it helps their vision, but also because it helps them gain confidence in their social interactions.

Is strabismus surgery covered by insurance?

Patients commonly wonder if eye muscle surgery to realign the eyes and fix strabismus is covered by insurance.

In a word, yes!

Virtually all health insurances, both private and state-sponsored, cover strabismus surgery, as it is reconstructive, not cosmetic. Our office will be sure to verify this with your insurance provider prior to the surgery date. If there will be any anticipated out-of-pocket costs, we will let you know beforehand.