Is Strabismus Surgery Painful? Know the details today!

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Do you suffer from strabismus and want to correct it? If so, then you should consider having corrective eye strabismus surgery. However, if you aren’t sure whether you need it, read on!

Strabismus is a condition where the eyes don’t align properly. This means that objects appear out of place and/or look distorted. People who suffer from this often experience double vision.

If you do decide to have corrective eye surgery, there are several options available to you. In this article, we discuss the different types of eye surgery and their pros and cons.

stylish round eyeglasses with optical lenses

What is Strabismus?

The term “strabismus” comes from two Greek words: “straya”, which means “to turn aside,” and “biasmos”, which means “misalignment.” This means that your eyes turn away from one another. The result is that things appear out of place or look distorted.

People with strabismus usually experience double vision. They may see both images at the same time. Or they may only be able to see one image in each eye. They might also notice that when looking straight ahead, some things appear blurry.

Causes of Strabismus, is it Congenital?

There are many causes for strabismus. Some people develop it as a result of an injury or illness during pregnancy. Others acquire it after birth. It can be caused by a problem with the brain, muscles, or nerves.

Congenitally, this disease occurs before birth. Your baby will not show any signs of developing strabismus until he or she develops complete vision.

Clinical Features

You may hear the clinical features described as esotropia or exotropia. While this sounds simple, it’s actually very hard to define.

For example, what exactly does it mean to say that a person’s visual field has turned outward? Do we say that someone has crossed his or her right eye over to the left side? How about when the visual field turns inward? Is that considered cross-eyed?

When someone says that something appears like a squint, but isn’t really, that’s called divergent squint. When something looks like a squint, and it truly is a squint, that’s called convergent squint.

Divergence Squints

In a divergence squint, the patient experiences double vision while looking straight ahead. You’ll find that you’re seeing objects in one eye and a mirror image of them in the other eye. Thus, these patients feel like their sight is off.

Convergent Squints

A convergence squint resembles a divergence squint. This is why you may think that divergent squinting is just a type of squint. But there’s a big difference between these two conditions.

With a convergent squint, you’ll find that you’re experiencing a single vision while looking directly ahead. Objects are being viewed simultaneously by each eye. That’s why the patient doesn’t realize that anything is wrong.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Your doctor will perform tests to determine whether you’ve developed strabismus. This involves using an instrument known as a cover test.

This helps the doctor measure the angle of deviation in each eye. He or she may also apply pressure to various parts of your face to determine if the eyeballs move independently of one another.

It’s possible that your doctor could use the above instruments to get an idea of how far your eyes deviate. There are also other tests that doctors can use to determine the cause of your condition.

Strabismus Surgery

Corrective eye surgeries help people suffering from strabismus improve their ability to focus.

They provide relief in terms of double vision. Additionally, the correct muscle contractions that tend to occur when the eyes deviate.

Eye surgeons will remove extra tissue associated with strabismus. They then reattach the affected muscles.

Strabismus Surgery Procedures

Surgical repair for strabismus can take place at several sites:

• The lateral rectus muscles

• The medial rectus muscles

• The superior oblique muscles

• Other orbital structures

The LR muscles are located behind the bulging area on the outside of each eye. The MR muscles are next to those. The SO muscles are found inside the orbit. And lastly, other orbital structures include the inferior oblique muscle, which lies on the bottom of the orbit, and the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, which attaches to the top of the eyelid. All four major orbital muscles must work together to achieve successful correction of gaze deviations.

Fixation is the process of keeping your eyes properly aligned while they are moving so that your vision remains clear. During your strabismus corrective eye surgery, your surgeon will make small incisions around your eyes. Then, he/she will carefully dissect tissues to reveal the underlying muscular structures. Once all the muscles have been identified, the surgeon will tighten the muscles using sutures. Sutures hold the muscles in place under tension.

 Once the procedure has been performed successfully, it is essential to follow up with frequent visits to ensure that your eyes remain free of postoperative complications.

The most common surgical procedure performed on children is the horizontal rectus advancement operation. In this case, the surgeon will advance both muscles toward the nose.

photo of baby lying on bed

He or she will then fuse them together.

If the muscles have been separated, the surgeon must reconnect them so that they function properly again. If needed, he or she may add extra tissue to either the upper or lower eyelid.

Another common surgical method is the vertical rectus transposition procedure. Here, the surgeon moves the lateral rectus muscle up and away from the midline.

Next, he or she will suture the muscles back together. Any excess fat between the muscles may also be removed.

Eyelid surgery may also be necessary in order to fix problems within the eyelids. A partial tucking of the medial or lateral part of the lower eyelid may often resolve the issue.

Tucking the entire eyelid is more involved. It requires removing skin and underlying structures. The doctor would insert an implant into the upper portion of the orbit.

 Eyebrow surgery is another option available for correcting any issues related to the brows. However, it’s important that your doctor knows that you want to correct the problem before performing surgery.

Some procedures involve cutting down on the number of hairs at a time. An electrolysis session is typically used to remove unwanted hairs.

Other techniques include injecting Botox directly into the area where new hair growth occurs. Of course, if you’re interested in eyebrow surgery, it’s always best to speak to a cosmetic surgeon about what steps you should take first.

Cosmetic Eyebrow Surgery

Brow Lift

As stated earlier, your cosmetic surgeon can give you advice on whether or not you need to undergo any form of brow lift surgery.

Typically, this is done in conjunction with rhinoplasty. Although some patients only opt to go under the knife after undergoing rhinoplasty.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

There are different types of laser resurfacing procedures. For instance, ablative lasers are designed to break down layers of skin.

Non-ablative lasers, on the other hand, are safer. Their purpose is to reduce wrinkles without damaging skin cells.

In this way, non-ablative lasers help eliminate fine lines around the mouth.

There are three general categories of non-ablative lasers. These include:

Intense pulsed light

These three methods all utilize laser energy. While IPL uses a similar system as JUVIA, Vbeam uses its own technology.

It works by using two wavelengths of light. One wavelength creates heat while the second wavelength causes micro-bubbles to form within the dermis layers of the skin. This is how the body produces collagen.

When these bubbles burst, they create long-lasting effects.

Nd: YAG Laser Therapy

Ablative Lasers

While there are many non-ablative lasers out there, one of the most popular ones is the Nd:Yag. It was developed in 1987 and has since become one of the most preferred skin rejuvenation tools.

This type of laser therapy provides results that last longer than traditional ablative lasers as well as being less harmful to surrounding tissues.

Since Nd: Yag lasers use two wavelengths of light, their healing process will be smoother and less painful.

How Do They Work?

The Nd: Yag laser emits 1064 nanometers of infrared light. When reaching the skin, a very small amount of energy penetrates deep into the skin’s surface. Once inside, thermal energy converts water molecules into steam. The resulting vapor then expands and pushes apart the outer layer of skin.

This action breaks down the protein fibers in the epidermal layer. As a result, new tissue replaces the damaged cells. In addition to creating better blood flow and oxygen absorption, the newly formed collagen helps improve elasticity.

 FAQs

Is Strabismus Surgery a Major Surgery?

No, strabismus surgery isn’t considered major surgery. If you’re looking for something more serious, you may want to consider eye muscle surgery.

However, strabismus is still an important part of facial plastic surgery.

What Are the Benefits of Cosmetic Eyebrow Surgery?

Eyebrows add shape and definition to the face. They also play a role in our expression.

If you’re unhappy with your eyebrows, you might benefit from cosmetic eyebrow surgery.

They can transform the entire appearance of your face.

Is Strabismus Surgery Painful?

Strabismus surgery is not typically associated with much pain or discomfort. However, if you have any swelling or bruising following surgery, it’s best to contact your doctor immediately.

How Long Does Recovery Take After Strabismus Surgery?

Recovery times vary depending on individual factors. Some people recover faster while others take longer. Your doctor will provide specific guidance at each visit.

You should expect to spend about a week recovering before returning home. You’ll likely need to wear glasses or sunglasses for a few days.

What is the best age for Strabismus surgery?

There is no ideal age for strabismus surgery. If you’ve had problems with a double vision since childhood, this could be the right time.

If you haven’t been diagnosed with strabismus until recently, your doctor will recommend waiting until you get older.


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