Squint Surgery Complications

Squint, also called strabismus, is a misalignment of the eyes. It is a condition characterized by eyes that point in different directions. One eye may turn inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards, while the other eye focuses straight ahead. Squint surgery is usually necessary when the defect is severe or causes vision problems. Although the risks of squint surgery complications are minor, it is important to be aware of all potential problems associated with this operation.

The Facts

• Squint is an eye misalignment that can cause vision problems. The causes of squint in children and adults vary widely, but can include brain injury (find a link to more information in the Resources section). Strabismus is a common eye condition that can develop in early childhood usually before the age of 3 years. Squint may also occur later in life. This defect can cause amblyopia (lazy eye) in young children and diplopia (double vision) in older children and people.

  There are different types of squint, which are classified by the direction of the eye misalignment. The most common types of squint or strabismus are hypertropia (upward), esotropia (inward), hypotropia (downward) and exotropia (outward).

Treatment Options

• To correct misaligned eyes and restore binocular vision, doctors can recommend glasses, eye exercises, prisms and surgery. Children who have amblyopia may also require patching treatments. Botox injections may also be utilized to treat adult strabismus under certain conditions. However, surgery is often necessary when the condition is present from an early age and noticeable. Surgery may also improve three -dimensional vision. Older children and adults may also need this operation when there are vision problems, such as diplopia. Even though squint surgery is considered a reconstructive procedure, it can also address certain cosmetic concerns of patients.

Surgery

• Squint surgery involves the repositioning of the eye muscles. During the operation, the eye muscles are exposed and either tightened or weakened to correct the problem. In some cases, surgery may also be required on the seemingly straight eye to achieve better results. As with any surgical procedure, there are some potential risks and complications associated with squint surgery.

Surgery Complications

• Some possible complications that can occur during surgery include bleeding that causes the eye to become red; perforation of the eyeball wall by a surgical instrument; and a slipped eye muscle. A slipped or lost eye muscle is a very rare complication that can occur if the muscle is not secured firmly onto the eye coat. In such cases, the eye muscle must be retrieved from the eye socket and reattached.

Post-Operative Complications

• Although major post-operative complications may be rare, there are still some potential problems associated with this type of operation. The principle risk is that multiple surgeries may be needed after the initial operation. Likewise, there may be an undercorrection or overcorrection of the problem noticed after the surgery. Other complications can include double vision, cyst formation at the suture site, eyeball infection or damaged eyesight.

Consideration

• While there may be some risks and complications associated with squint surgery, the benefits of this procedure are that it can considerably improve the appearance of the squint and help with the management of diplopia. For a better chance to correct childhood strabismus, treatment should begin as soon as it is diagnosed. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that adult strabismus surgery can also help to restore binocular vision and visual field.