Eye muscle surgery is performed to make the eye appear straighter. This corrects a condition known as strabismus where the eye may turn inward, up, down or to the side.

Who Can Have an Eye Muscle Surgery?

Eye muscle surgery can be used to treat almost any patient, no matter how old, who suffers from such eye problems. However, there are some unusual conditions for which this treatment is not recommended. Such conditions include a fibrous band or a nerve palsy of the eye muscle.

How Is the Surgery Performed?

Eye muscle surgery is often performed on children. A general anesthesia is required in children. Adults can usually tolerate local anesthesia too. Generally, the procedure is performed in an outpatient hospital in a same day surgery setting.

Before an eye muscle surgery, the doctors take thorough measurements to determine the degree of muscle imbalance. This way they know how much surgery should be performed on the eye muscle. The first step of the surgical procedure is to separate the eye muscle from the eyeball side.

Afterwards, the eye muscle is reattached at another position. Surgeons use some special stitches that do not need to be removed after surgery. If the eye muscle has to be tightened, part of it is being removed or the surgeon makes a tuck before reconnecting it to the eyeball.

After everything else is complete, the membrane layer that covers the eye muscle is put back into its place. These same types of stitches are used to secure it.

What Happens Right Afterwards?

After the surgical procedure, the patient is taken to a recovery room to be closely supervised for a short period of time. The medical staff will check his or her vital signs, pulse, blood pressure and breathing frequently. Some patients experience nausea after an eye muscle surgery. Medication is given to improve this condition. Many patients also need pain medication to reduce discomfort. An eye patch is often applied to protect the eye.

What Happens After You Go Home?

The majority of the patients are able to go home in the same day. Ointment or eye drops are often used at home to prevent infection and swelling. During follow-up visits, the doctor will check the patient's vision, examine the new position of the eye and monitor the healing process. In some cases, eye muscle surgery is followed by poor vision in one eye accompanied by muscle weakness. In such situations, additional treatment is required to improve vision. This treatment can include eye drops, eye exercises, and a patch on the healthy eye or glasses.



What Are the Risks for Eye Muscle Surgery?

Any surgery or anesthesia involves certain risks and possible complications. These complications include infection, bleeding and unexpected reactions to the anesthesia. In addition, the eye muscle can sometimes be under or over corrected. In such cases, a second surgery may be needed.

Choosing an experienced and highly skilled surgeon may reduce the risk of under or over correction, although it won't eliminate it completely. Following the doctor's indications carefully can also helps reduce the risk for infection.