Strabismus Surgery

Prior to the surgery itself, a specialized exam will take place right here in our office. This exam is called a sensorimotor examination and it assesses the alignment of your eyes to determine which muscles are causing the lazy eye. This test will help to determine a surgical plan for Dr. Aguilera.

The surgery itself has varied results for pediatric patients versus adult patients. With adult patients, the Strabismus surgery performed could be done involving recession and resections procedures, or with adjustable suture eye muscle surgery. The choice of surgery depends mostly on how long the lazy eye has been with the patient.

For pediatric patients, the procedure may be a bit different. For one, they will need to have general anesthesia to help with their anxiety. The child is normally nervous about the procedure and about being separated from their parent(s) during this time.

During the Strabismus surgery, the eyelids are held open gently with a lid speculum. The muscles are then accessed through the conjunctiva where they are adjusted. Most Strabismus surgeries for lazy eye are complete in a few hours. However, the initial recovery process may require the patient to remain in the office for quite some time afterwards. It is for this reason – and the fact that fasting will be required prior to the anesthesia – that most surgeries will take place in the early morning hours.

There will be some side effects after the surgery, so we typically tell our adult patients not to return to work for another week. For pediatric patients, no school for a few days and we also tell Mom and Dad to keep a close eye on them to make sure they aren’t in any extraordinary amount of pain.

Having Strabismus surgery for the repair of a lazy eye is a minimally-invasive procedure, but still a surgical procedure that requires moving around of the muscles. This will lead to some common after-effects such as sore eyes and redness.

Complications from these surgeries are rare, but if you see any of these conditions in the days following, please contact us immediately:

•     Double vision
•     Bleeding
•     Retinal detachment
•     Residual misalignment
•     Any anesthesia-related complications

If you’re lacking confidence due to a lazy eye, Strabismus surgery can be your answer. We can repair your vision and restore your confidence with one simple procedure.

Interested in learning more? Give us a call to set up a consultation.