
Eye muscle surgery, also known as strabismus surgery, is a procedure that corrects misaligned eyes by adjusting the muscles that control eye movement. It is a treatment for strabismus, a condition where the eyes do not line up in the same direction, resulting in a crossed-eyed appearance. The surgery involves making small incisions in the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the sclera (white part of the eye), and then adjusting the extraocular muscles to achieve proper alignment and coordination. This procedure can improve depth perception, reduce eye strain, and correct visible misalignment. It is commonly performed on children but can also be done on adults, and it is generally an outpatient procedure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To correct misaligned eyes and related vision problems |
| Medical term | Strabismus |
| Common causes | Neurological problems, trauma, thyroid eye disease, myokymia, nystagmus |
| Symptoms | Eyes not properly aligned, one eye turning inward, outward, upward or downward, blurred or double vision, bulging or involuntary movement of eyes |
| Diagnosis | Vision screening, eye examination |
| Treatment options | Eye exercises, eyeglasses, patching or covering the better-seeing eye, surgery |
| Surgery procedure | Administering anesthesia, making small incisions in the conjunctiva, adjusting eye muscles, covering muscles with the membrane, using eye drops and ointment |
| Recovery | Red eyes, blood-tinged tears, swelling of eyelids, double vision, nausea, tiredness, light sensitivity |
| Risks | Heavy bleeding, infection, double vision, eye damage |
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What You'll Learn
- Eye muscle surgery treats strabismus (crossed eyes)
- The procedure involves adjusting the muscles that control eye movement
- It is an outpatient procedure
- There are two common methods to alter extraocular muscles: resection and recession
- Surgery may be recommended when other treatments, such as glasses or eye exercises, are ineffective

Eye muscle surgery treats strabismus (crossed eyes)
Eye muscle surgery, also known as strabismus surgery, is a procedure that treats strabismus, or crossed eyes, by adjusting the muscles that control eye movement. Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes do not line up in the same direction, resulting in a misalignment that can affect depth perception and normal vision development. While strabismus is commonly noticed in children, it can develop at any age due to various causes, including neurological problems or trauma.
During eye muscle surgery, the ophthalmologist adjusts the extraocular muscles, which are the six muscles attached to the outside of each eye and control eye positioning and movement. The procedure involves making a small incision in the conjunctiva, the clear outer layer covering the white part of the eye, and then carefully adjusting the affected eye muscles to achieve proper alignment. This may involve strengthening or weakening the muscles to improve eye alignment and coordination.
Before scheduling eye muscle surgery, patients typically undergo a comprehensive consultation with an eye doctor to determine if surgery is the best treatment option. Non-surgical treatments, such as orthoptics (specialised eye exercises) and prescribed glasses or contact lenses, may be explored first. If surgery is recommended, patients can expect a team of medical professionals to monitor their vital signs and administer anaesthesia to ensure comfort and safety during the procedure.
After eye muscle surgery, patients can expect a recovery period of a few days to a few weeks. During this time, it is common to experience redness, swelling, and sensitivity to light. Children may also experience double vision and should be monitored to prevent rubbing their eyes. Follow-up care with an eye surgeon is typically recommended within the first two weeks after surgery, and patients may be prescribed eye drops or ointment to aid healing and prevent infection.
Overall, eye muscle surgery is a well-established technique that has helped many individuals with strabismus achieve improved eye alignment and enhanced vision, boosting self-confidence and quality of life.
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The procedure involves adjusting the muscles that control eye movement
Eye muscle surgery is a procedure that treats strabismus, or misaligned eyes, by adjusting the muscles that control eye movement. This condition, also known as "crossed eyes," causes the eyes to look in different directions and can lead to blurred or double vision. While strabismus is commonly noticed in children, it can develop at any age due to various causes, including neurological problems or trauma.
The procedure involves an ophthalmologist carefully adjusting the extraocular muscles, which are the six muscles attached to the outside of each eye and control eye positioning and movement. To access these muscles, the surgeon makes small incisions in the conjunctiva, the thin clear membrane covering the sclera (the white part of the eye). Depending on the desired outcome, the muscles may be loosened, tightened, cut, sutured, reattached, or folded.
To strengthen a muscle, a section of it or a nearby tendon may be removed to shorten it, a process called resection. Alternatively, to weaken a muscle, it is stretched and reattached to a point farther back in the eye, known as a recession. This lengthens the muscle and reduces its pulling strength. In some cases, multiple surgeries may be necessary to achieve the desired alignment.
Before the procedure, patients typically undergo a comprehensive eye examination to determine the specific muscles that require adjustment. The surgeon will also take eye measurements and consider previous treatments. On the day of the surgery, patients are administered anesthesia, and their vital signs are closely monitored throughout the procedure.
After the surgery, patients can usually go home the same day, but it is important to follow the doctor's instructions for recovery. The eyes may feel scratchy and painful, and there may be redness, swelling, and sensitivity to light for several days or even weeks. Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled for one to two weeks after the procedure to ensure proper healing and address any vision problems.
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It is an outpatient procedure
Eye muscle surgery is a procedure that corrects eye muscle problems, treating conditions such as strabismus (crossed eyes), thyroid eye disease, myokymia, and nystagmus. It is a well-established surgical technique that has helped many patients achieve better eye alignment and improved vision.
The decision to undergo eye muscle surgery depends on several factors, including the severity of the condition, its impact on daily life, and the success of previous treatments. Before recommending surgery, an eye doctor will typically explore non-surgical treatment options, such as orthoptics (specialized eye exercises) and prescribed glasses or contact lenses.
If eye muscle surgery is determined to be the best course of action, it is important to know that it is typically an outpatient procedure. This means that patients can go home the same day as the surgery and do not need to stay overnight in the hospital. However, it is recommended to have a follow-up visit with the eye surgeon 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery to ensure proper healing and address any vision problems that may persist.
During the procedure, the patient is administered anesthesia through an IV, and their vital signs are carefully monitored by the medical team. A specialized instrument called an eye speculum gently holds the eye open. The surgeon then makes small incisions in the conjunctiva, the thin clear membrane covering the sclera (the white part of the eye). Through these incisions, the surgeon operates on the muscles that control eye movement, either loosening, tightening, or relocating them to achieve proper alignment.
The surgery may involve cutting, placing sutures, reattaching, and/or folding tiny sections of one or more of the eye muscles. In some cases, a section of the muscle or tendon may be removed to shorten and strengthen it (resection), while in other cases, the muscle may be stretched and reattached to a point farther back in the eye to weaken it (recession).
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There are two common methods to alter extraocular muscles: resection and recession
Eye muscle surgery, also known as strabismus surgery, is a procedure used to correct misaligned eyes and related vision problems. It treats strabismus, a condition in which the eyes are not parallel, also known as "crossed eyes". This condition can cause one eye to turn inward, outward, upward, or downward, resulting in a constant or intermittent misalignment. While strabismus is commonly noticed in children, it can develop at any age due to various causes, including neurological problems or trauma.
In a resection procedure, a section of the muscle or tendon is removed to make it shorter and relatively stronger. This is done by reattaching the muscle in a different location, usually farther from the eye. This method is often used to correct inwardly turned eyes (esotropia) by strengthening the lateral rectus muscles located on the side of each eye.
On the other hand, a recession procedure weakens the muscle by detaching the affected muscle from the eye and reattaching it farther back, reducing its relative strength. This technique is used when a muscle is too strong and causing the eye to turn in an unwanted direction.
Both methods aim to improve eye alignment and coordination, helping the eyes work together better. The specific approach chosen depends on the patient's specific condition and the muscles requiring adjustment.
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Surgery may be recommended when other treatments, such as glasses or eye exercises, are ineffective
Eye muscle surgery is a procedure that treats strabismus, a condition where the eyes are misaligned. This can cause the eyes to cross inward or outward, or for one eye to deviate horizontally or vertically. While strabismus is commonly noticed in children, it can develop at any age due to various causes, including neurological problems or trauma. The condition affects both depth perception and normal vision development, and can even lead to impaired vision.
Before recommending eye muscle surgery, an eye doctor will typically explore several non-surgical treatment options. These include orthoptics, which are specialised exercises to help strengthen eye muscle control and coordination, and possibly improve eye alignment and visual function. Specially prescribed glasses or contact lenses can also help correct refractive errors that may be contributing to eye misalignment.
However, surgery may be recommended when other treatments, such as glasses or eye exercises, are ineffective. Eye muscle surgery is a well-established surgical technique that has helped many patients achieve better eye alignment and improved vision. During the procedure, the ophthalmologist adjusts the extraocular muscles. These six muscles are attached to the outside of each eye and control eye positioning and movement. The procedure involves carefully adjusting these muscles to improve eye alignment and coordination.
The procedure may involve cutting, placing sutures, reattaching, and/or folding tiny sections of one or more of the eye muscles. To strengthen a muscle, a section of it or a nearby tendon may be removed to shorten it. This is called a resection. To weaken a muscle, it is stretched and reattached to a point farther back in the eye, a procedure known as a recession. In some cases, multiple surgeries may be necessary to correct an eye that continues to deviate.
Eye muscle surgery is usually an outpatient procedure, meaning patients can go home the same day. However, it is important to note that excessive bleeding and infection are possible risks of any type of surgery. In rare cases, eye muscle repair surgery can also cause double vision and eye damage.
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Frequently asked questions
Eye muscle surgery is a procedure used to treat eye deviation caused by uneven eye muscles. It is often used to treat strabismus (crossed eyes), where the eyes do not line up in the same direction.
Eye muscle surgery is most commonly performed on children, but it can also be done on adults with similar eye problems.
During the procedure, the surgeon will make small incisions in the conjunctiva (the thin clear covering over the sclera, the white part of the eye) and adjust the affected eye muscles to achieve proper alignment. This may involve cutting, placing sutures, reattaching, and/or folding tiny sections of one or more of the eye muscles.
Before the procedure, you will undergo a comprehensive eye examination, and your doctor will discuss treatment options and determine if surgery is the best option for you. After the procedure, your eyes will likely feel scratchy and painful, and you will need to follow your doctor's instructions for post-operative care to prevent infection. A follow-up appointment is usually scheduled for 1-2 weeks after the surgery.











































