Eye Muscle Repair Surgery

Before the Surgery:

• Consultation and Eye Examination: 
  • Patient’ll first meet with an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) who will assess your eye condition. They’ll check the muscles around your eyes, test your vision, and discuss your medical history.
  • The doctor may also perform a few tests to determine how much your eyes are misaligned and to decide which muscles need to be adjusted.
• Pre-Surgery Instructions:
  
  
  • You will be asked to avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the surgery. This is to ensure you’re ready for anesthesia.
  • If you’re taking any medications, your doctor will guide you on what to continue or stop before the surgery.
    
• Anesthesia Planning:
  
  
  • For adults, the surgery is usually done under local anesthesia, meaning you’ll be awake but your eye area will be numb.
  • For children, general anesthesia may be used, meaning they will be asleep during the procedure.
    
• Scheduling the Surgery:
  • The doctor will schedule your surgery for a convenient time, and you may be asked to arrange for someone to drive you home afterward.

During the surgery:

• Anesthesia Administration:
  • The surgeon will start by giving anesthesia to numb the area around your eyes. If general anesthesia is used, you’ll be asleep through the procedure.
    
• Surgical Procedure:
  
  • The surgeon makes small incisions in the tissue around the eyes to access the muscles. Depending on your condition, the surgeon will either tighten or loosen certain eye muscles to straighten the eyes.
  • Tightening: If a muscle is too weak, the surgeon shortens or tightens it to pull the eye into better alignment.
  • Loosening: If a muscle is too tight, the surgeon loosens it to allow the eye to move more freely.
• Closing the Incisions:
  
  
  • The small cuts are closed with very fine stitches that usually dissolve on their own, so no stitches need to be removed later.
    

After the Surgery:

• Recovery in the Clinic:
  • After surgery, you’ll rest for a short time in the clinic to make sure you’re comfortable before going home.
  • Your doctor will monitor your eye to check for any immediate complications.
    
• Post-Surgery Instructions:
  
  • You may need to wear an eye shield or patch for a few days to protect your eyes while they heal.
    
  • Your doctor will give you specific instructions on caring for your eyes, including how to clean them and any medications you need, like antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops.
• Pain Management:
  • Some mild discomfort, swelling, or redness is common after the surgery, but these symptoms usually go away within a few days. Over-the-counter pain medications may help ease any pain.
    
• Follow-Up Appointments:
  
  • You’ll need to visit your doctor a few times after the surgery to check how well your eyes are healing and to monitor for any complications. These visits help ensure your eyes are properly aligned and that your vision is improving.
• Vision Adjustment:
  
  
  • Your vision may be blurry or slightly unstable in the beginning, but this should improve as your eyes heal. It can take a few weeks for the full results to show.
    
• Avoiding Strain:
  • For the first few weeks, you should avoid heavy activities, rubbing your eyes, or straining them (like lifting heavy objects or intense physical activity) to help the healing process.
• Long-Term Care:
  
  
  • Once healed, most people experience improved eye alignment and better vision. However, in rare cases, a second surgery may be needed if the eyes are not fully straightened or if there’s a recurrence of misalignment.
  • The surgery typically takes about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the eye alignment issues.