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How is Strabismus surgery done?
The eyeball is never removed from the socket during any kind of eye surgery. The ophthalmologist makes a small incision in the tissue covering the eye to reach the eye muscles. During surgery certain muscles are repositioned, depending on which direction the eye is turning. Surgery may be needed for one or both the eyes.
While performing strabismus surgery on children, a general anesthetic is administered. Local anesthesia is an option for adults. Recovery time is rapid and patients are usually able to resume their normal activities within a few days. As with any surgery, eye muscle surgery has certain risks, such as infection, bleeding, excessive scarring, and some rare complications that can lead to loss of vision.
After surgery, glasses or prisms may be useful to improve vision. Further surgery may be needed later to keep the eyes straight. For children with constant strabismus, early surgery offers the best chance for the eyes to work well together. In general, it is easier for children to undergo such surgery before school age.
Strabismus surgery is a safe and effective treatment for eye misalignment. It is not, however, a substitute for glasses or amblyopia therapy.
Injections
BotoxTM, a new drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for limited use, can be an alternative to eye muscle surgery for some individuals. An injection of this drug into an eye muscle temporarily relaxes the muscle, allowing the opposite muscle to tighten and straighten the eyes.
Although the effects of the drug wear off after several weeks, sometimes the misalignment may be permanently corrected.
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