About Strabismus Strabismus (pronounced “struh-BIZ-mus”), or squint, are terms that refer to the misalignment of the eyes. With this condition, one eye may be facing forward while the other eye turns or rolls inward, outward, upward or downward. Strabismus patients’ eyes do not work together, which results in the transfer of different image signals to the brain. Strabismus can affect both adults and children. Unlike in pediatric strabismus cases though, adult strabismus often cause severe double vision. It’s wise to have an evaluation of the strabismus as soon as the condition is detected, since as with most health issues, the longer the misalignment of the eyes goes untreated, the more difficult it becomes to correct. Causes of Strabismus Strabismus affects approximately 4% of children, and in adults strabismus is often present because of a condition developed in early childhood that has worsened over the years. The exact cause of Strabismus is difficult to determine, but some cases may be due to a family history of the condition. Other causes of strabismus include: - Orbital diseases, like thyroid eye disease
- A previous stroke or neurosurgical procedure
- Head trauma or eye injury
- Nerve diseases, like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Down ’s syndrome and hydrocephalus
- Generally poor vision in one eye
- Vascular nerve issues that cause problems with the control of the movement of one or both eye muscles
Common Signs That You May Be Suffering from Adult Strabismus One of the most common signs that you may be experiencing adult strabismus and potentially require strabismus surgery is the presence of a turned or rolling eye. When this occurs, individuals usually experience double vision, but some individuals are unaware that one eye is misaligned with the other. Some other more subtle symptoms of strabismus include: - Difficulty with focusing
- Mild or severe eye strain
- Jumping vision and images
- Difficulty with tracking text on a page or a computer screen
- Partial or complete loss of peripheral vision
The Strabismus Treatment Procedure Strabismus surgery is a one day procedure. The surgeon will make a small incision in the outer covering of the eye to access the outer or extraocular muscles. The measurements from the preoperative preparation will be used as a guide for how much correction needs to be made. In some cases, both eyes may be treated during the surgery. This type of eye muscle surgery may include: - Loosening / weakening procedures
- Recession, involving the movement of ocular muscles posteriorly towards its origin
- Tightening / strengthening procedures
- Resection
- Tucking
- Transposition / repositioning procedures
Strabismus Surgery Preoperative Preparation Patients who require Strabismus surgery need to go through very minimal preoperative preparation for the procedure, including: - Fasting after midnight the day before surgery
- Measuring the deviation of the eyes
- Evaluating the measurement results
What to Expect After Surgery Patients who have had strabismus surgery can expect discomfort of the eyes for one to two days after surgery. Some children and adults have no discomfort at all. Strabismus Eye Surgery Outcomes Strabismus surgery can significantly improve binocularity, the ability to focus upon an object with both eyes and create a single image. The proper coordination between both eyes is a basic yet critical visual ability. Strabismus Surgery Risks As with any surgery, there are some minor but potential risks with this procedure, including: - Undercorrection
- Overcorrection
- Infection
- Scarring
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