Strabismus Surgery

Your child's eye doctor may recommend strabismus surgery to help align your child's eyes. This is a safe, common procedure. Read on to learn more about the surgery, and what to expect before and after it's done.

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The eye care provider may recommend strabismus surgery to help align your child’s eyes. During surgery, certain eye muscles are adjusted. This helps the muscles better control how the eye moves. Often, surgery is done in addition to other treatments. In most cases, children who have strabismus surgery go home the same day.

How surgery works

Strabismus surgery is a safe, common procedure. The eye care provider simply changes the position or length of an eye muscle. This small change can pull the eye into proper alignment. The two most common methods of surgery are:

  • Recession. A muscle is moved to a new position on the eye.

  • Resection. Part of an eye muscle is removed then reattached to the eye at the original place.

Three-quarter view of eye showing muscle on outside of eye. Muscle has been cut, moved back, and sutured to sclera.Three-quarter view of eye showing muscle on outside of eye. Shaded area shows part of muscle to be removed.

Before surgery

Prepare your child for the procedure as you have been instructed. In addition:

  • A few days before surgery, your child may have an eye exam so the healthcare provider can double-check eye measurements.

  • Follow any directions your child is given for taking medicines and for not eating or drinking before surgery.

On the day of surgery, your child:

  • Can wear their favorite pajamas and bring along a toy

  • Will be given medicine (anesthesia) that makes them sleepy; surgery won’t start until they are asleep

After surgery

Each child reacts to surgery in their own way. Some children may be afraid to open their eyes at first. Children are often sleepy or cranky for several hours after surgery. If your child’s response worries you, talk with the eye care provider. After surgery, your child:

  • May have a red eye that will go away after several weeks

  • Will probably not need any pain medicine since recovering from strabismus surgery is not painful for most children

  • May still need other treatment, such as glasses or an eye patch

When to call the healthcare provider

Call your child’s eye care provider if:

  • Your child’s eyelid is very swollen

  • A puslike discharge comes from the eye (a few bloody tears are normal)

  • Your child vomits more than once

  • Your child has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your child's healthcare provider

Risks and possible complications

As with any surgery, strabismus surgery has risks. These include:

  • The eyes not being perfectly aligned—some children need more surgery

  • Bleeding in or around the eye

  • Eye infection

  • Risks of anesthesia (the eye care provider can tell you more about these)