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Squint surgery

Strabismus or misalignment of the eyes (Squint)

A squint is an intermittent or constant misalignment of the two eyes. Strabismus or squint, is when a person’s line of vision is not pointed at the same object as the other eye. When one or both eyes turn inward towards the nose, it is more commonly known as crossed-eyed. In some cases, one eye can turn up while the other is down. Your eyes fail to work as a team when focussing on any object.

It most commonly affects children and can cause amblyopia. One’s eyes fail to work as a team when focusing on any object.

Causes of Strabismus

Each eye has six external muscles that control the position and movement of the eye. In a person with normal vision, the muscles in both eyes coordinate perfectly. A squint can be caused by problems with these eye muscles brought on by anatomical or neurological issues.

In most cases however, there is no known cause but some forms of strabismus have strong genetic predispositions. This means there is an increased chance that you will develop it based on your genetic makeup. A squint can also occur due to eye injuries or general health conditions.

Treatment, surgery and recovery

Strabismus patients need to be thoroughly investigated to find a cause and determine treatment. In most cases, squints can be surgically corrected once the cause has been identified. There are a range of non-surgical treatment options available such as vision therapy, corrective lenses, or any other form of treatment that addresses the eye muscles only.

Strabismus surgery for children will require general anaesthesia. For adults, a local anaesthesia is sometimes used. After surgery, the eye alignment can be reassessed. If necessary, adjustments can be made. In most cases though, just a single operation will be required to achieve permanent success.

The procedure lasts roughly 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of eye muscle surgery you need.  Almost all patients are discharged on the same day. They are able to return to their normal activities within a week of surgery.

In some cases however, recovery time depends on how extensive the procedure was. During your recovery you may experience soreness. You may also experience redness in your eyes for a few weeks.

Consult your ophthalmologist for the right pain medication to use. He may also prescribe an antibiotic or eye drops that will lessen your chances of infection. You may also experience side effects like redness, discomfort, bruising or swelling.

Keep in mind that the alignment of your eyes will also change throughout the healing process. It could be several months before your eyes reach their final alignment.

Strabismus Surgeon in Durban

Should you, or someone you know experience any vision problems, set up an appointment with Dr. Ladner today. He is a specialist ophthalmologist operating in the Berea, Durban and Hillcrest areas of KZN.

Dr Grant Ladner | Eye Surgeon