Squint Surgery
Best Eye Hospital in India for Squint Surgery Treatment!
Before Surgery:
- You'll attend a pre-operative assessment some simple tests will be done to check that you can have the operation and you'll have the chance to ask any questions about it
- you'll be told when to come into hospital for the procedure and when you should stop eating and drinking beforehand
- You'll need to sort out how you'll be getting home you can usually go home the same day, ideally with a friend or family member to escort you (as you may be sleepy); you will not be able to drive for at least a day or two if you've had surgery
- What happens during squint surgery
- Squint surgery is done under general anesthetics (where you're asleep) and usually takes less than an hour. You or your child can usually go home the same day.
During the procedure:
- The eye is held open using an instrument called a lid speculum – sometimes it may be necessary to operate on both eyes to get the alignment right
- The surgeon detaches part of the muscle connected to the eye and moves it into a new position so that the eyes point in the same direction
- The muscles are fixed in their new position with dissolvable stitches – these are hidden behind the eye so you will not be able to see them afterwards
- Sometimes, in adults and teenagers, further adjustments to your eye muscles may be made when you've woken up after the operation. Local anesthetics eye drops are used to numb your eyes for this.
After Squint Surgery
Following the operation, a pad may be put over the treated eye. This is usually removed the next day or sometimes before you go home.
The eye is likely to be sore for at least a few days. You may be given painkillers to reduce discomfort and some eye drops to help with healing.
You May Experience Some Of The Following Side Effects:
Following the operation, a pad may be put over the treated eye. This is usually removed the next day or sometimes before you go home.
The eye is likely to be sore for at least a few days. You may be given painkillers to reduce discomfort and some eye drops to help with healing.
- Eye pain – this tends to last a few days and often feels like grit or sand in the eye; taking simple painkillers such as paracetamol can help, although children under 16 should not be given aspirin
- Blood in your tears and watering eyes – this can last for a few weeks
- Itchy eyes – this is caused by the stitches and it may last a few weeks until they dissolve; try not to rub your eyes
- Double vision – this usually passes after a week or so, but can last longer
- You'll be asked to attend visits with an eye specialist after surgery. Contact them, the hospital or a GP if you have any severe or lasting side effects from surgery.
Returning to normal activities
It can take several weeks to fully recover from squint surgery.
Your doctor or care team can give you specific advice about when you can return to your normal activities, but generally speaking:
- You can read or watch TV and carry out other daily activities as soon as you feel able to you can return to work or school after about a week
- Do not drive for at least a day or two (as the anesthetics may not have fully worn off), or for longer if you have double vision
- Try not to get any soap or shampoo in the eye when washing
- Most people return to exercise and sport after about a week, although you may be advised to avoid swimming for 4 weeks and contact sports (such as rugby) for 6 weeks
- Do not use make-up close to the eyes for 4 weeks
- Your child should not play in sand or use face paint for 2 weeks
- If you wore glasses before surgery, you'll probably still need to wear them. But do not wear contact lenses until you're told it's safe to do so.
Risks of Squint Surgery
As with any kind of operation, there’s a risk of complications after surgery to fix a squint.
- Further surgery being needed to fully correct the squint – this is quite common, particularly if the squint is severe
- Permanent double vision – this may require special glasses to correct your vision (read more about how double vision is treated)
- An infection, abscess (build-up of pus) or cyst (build-up of fluid) around the eye – this may require treatment with antibiotics and/or a procedure to drain the pus or fluid
- The eye muscles slipping out of position – further surgery may be needed to correct this a small hole being made in the eye as the eye muscles are stitched in place – this may require antibiotics to prevent infection and a procedure to close the hole
- Loss of vision – this is very rare
Best Eye Hospital in India for Squint Surgery Treatment!
A squint, also called strabismus, is where the eyes point in different directions. It’s particularly common in young children but can happen at any age. One of the eyes may turn in, out, up, or down while the other eye looks ahead. This may happen all the time, or it may come and go. Treatment is usually recommended to correct a squint, as it’s unlikely to get
better on its own, and it could cause further problems if not treated early on.
When to Get Medical Advice
Get Advice If:
- Your child has a squint all the time.
- Your child is older than 3 months and has a squint that comes and goes – in babies younger than this, squints that come and go are common and are not usually a cause for concern.
- You have any concerns about your child's vision – signs of a problem can include regularly turning their head to one side or keeping one eye closed when looking at things.
- You develop a squint or double vision later in life.
A GP, health visitor, or local optician’s service can refer you to an eye specialist for some simple tests and treatment if necessary.
Problems a Child May Have If a Squint is Not Treated
It’s important not to ignore a squint that happens all the time or develops after 3 months of age.
It could lead to further problems if left untreated, such as:
- Persistent blurred or double vision.
- A lazy eye – where the brain starts to ignore signals coming from the affected eye, so your child does not develop normal eyesight.
- Embarrassment or low self-esteem.
Surgery can help improve the alignment of the eyes even if a squint has been left untreated for a long time, but any vision problems may be permanent if they are not treated at a
young age.
Causes of Squints
The exact cause of a squint is not always known.
Some people are born with a squint and others develop one later in life. Sometimes they run in families.
In children, a squint is often caused by the eye attempting to overcome a vision problem, such as:
- Short-Sightedness – difficulty seeing things that are far away
- Long-Sightedness – difficulty seeing nearby objects
- Astigmatism – where the front of the eye is unevenly curved, causing blurred vision
