Strabismus Surgery

The most common treatment for strabismus is surgery. It can improve eye alignment and help restore proper vision.

Typically, strabismus occurs when the muscles around the eyes are either too stiff or too weak. An ophthalmologist can loosen, tighten, or move certain eye muscles so that the eyes line up properly to work together. More than one surgery may be needed to treat strabismus.

Surgery is usually done as outpatient surgery in a hospital or surgery center, using either general or local anesthesia. Your ophthalmologist makes a small cut in the tissue covering the eye to reach the eye muscles. The muscles are then repositioned to help the eyes point in the same direction. This may need to be done in one or both eyes. After strabismus surgery, you can get back to your daily routine within a few days.