Fixing Adult Strabismus

A study reported in the Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) suggests that surgery to correct strabismus not be limited to children. Adults as old as 90 can benefit from surgical corrected of strabismus - a condition in which the eyeballs are not aligned properly and point in different directions. It is a common condition in children with about four percent of children in the United States being diagnosed with strabismus. Adults can also suffer from strabismus with an estimated four in 100 adults having the condition. Most adults with strabismus have had the condition since childhood, but it can also be caused by medical conditions, such as diabetes, thyroid disease and head trauma, and can occasionally occur after cataract or retinal surgery.

In the study the participants answered questions on how strabismus affected their lives before they had surgery and again after they underwent surgical correction. Researchers looked at areas such as it's effects on social interaction (maintaining eye contact., social confusion), concerns about the future (blindness, inability to work or read), and job-related concerns (not being hired, retained and/or promoted). In all areas participants reported a significant improvement after surgery.

Surgical correction involves either loosening or tightening the muscles that attach to the eye to allow alignment to be improved. The surgery is generally an out-patient procedure and usually only involves minor discomfort post-operatively. The eyes will be read, and may feel like there is a foreign object irritating it. Eye drops may be needed to prevent swelling and infection.

While some health providers may consider this procedure as cosmetic, the positive effects seem to counteract that notion. If you are an adult suffering from strabismus you should talk with your doctor about your options.

posted 11/18/05 with information from The American Academy of Ophthalmology