About the procedure
Strabismus surgery weakens or strengthens selected extraocular muscles, i.e. the muscles that move the eyeball. It is considered a relatively safe procedure. Strabismus procedures are divided into: strengthening (increasing the force and tension of a given muscle), weakening (reducing the force and tension of a muscle) and procedures that change the direction in which a muscle acts. The first follow-up visit takes place on the day after surgery. The operated eye heals within 4-6 weeks; eye movements and alignment stabilise within a few days to 6-8 weeks after surgery.
Indications
- Determined individually, because some types of strabismus can be corrected with optical methods or orthoptic exercises
- Surgery is generally proposed when the angle of deviation is large, the onset was early, the strabismus is post-traumatic (e.g. a blow-out orbital fracture), or non-surgical treatment has failed or the patient prefers a faster surgical solution
Contraindications
- Poor general condition of the patient
- Lack of patient consent
- Coagulation disorders
- Allergy to agents used for general anaesthesia
- Upper respiratory tract infection
How the procedure is performed
The operation can be performed on one or both eyes. Surgery on one extraocular muscle usually takes about 30 minutes. Strabismus surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, usually as a day-case procedure. After surgery a dressing is applied and left on the eye until the next morning. Absorbable conjunctival sutures usually dissolve within 4-6 weeks and do not need to be removed; they may cause a foreign-body sensation in the eye.
Price:
from PLN 8,000
Benefits of the procedure
- Elimination of the cause of strabismus (where possible)
- Significant improvement of visual acuity through treatment of amblyopia (mainly in children)
- Restoration of correct, parallel alignment of the eyes
- Improved appearance
- Improved well-being
Post-operative recommendations
- Follow-up with the operating surgeon
- Anti-inflammatory drops for several weeks after surgery, as prescribed
- Rinsing the eye with lukewarm boiled water or saline if it is sticky with discharge in the morning
- Avoiding physical effort and rubbing the eye
