25 With Strabismus Qs about Surgery - Eye & Vision Message Board

Allerian1004 · 01-24-2009, 08:23 PM

I'm a 25 year old medical student. I was born with strabismus and amblyopia (which I think was mostly corrected because I can use each eye). I had surgery when I was 3 and then patching for the amblyopia. Over the past two years, I have noticed an increasing extropia. It is very slight with my contacts in but very pronounced with my glasses on especially when I'm tired. I'm also having difficulty with focusing my eyes. I recently saw an optometrist and everything looks okay besides the extropia (my prescription didn't change too much either). I'm seeing a pediatric opthalmologist on monday who specializes in childhood and adult strabimus and am going to inquire about surgery.
Have you guys had good results with surgery? Was the surgery uncomfortable? How long was it before you were driving again? How about reading? (I'm a 2nd year student so I would love to study ASAP after surgery. I don't mind if I can't drive for a few days).
Also, how was the anesthesia? I also have lupus so I'm alittle worried about the anesthesia but would prefer it to local.

TopGeek · 01-25-2009, 09:27 AM

Your situation is fairly unusual because, by 25, your strabismus should have stabilised. Also, most people find that wearing glasses helps to avoid the weaker eye wandering because both eyes work at grabbing and holding on to a sharp image.
It is possible then that there is some other factor at play in your case. That really means that the paediatric specialist is the best person to check and advise you.
It will be interesting to hear the results of your visit.

JodieJ · 01-25-2009, 04:45 PM

My situation was very different from yours, but I'll share my experience anyway. I developed strabismus and double vision secondary to monovision contact lens wear. (I must have been born with a vulnerability, but it was never manifest until I was nearly 50 years old!) The strab surgery was very successful in my case. I experienced no pain at all. I had surgery in the morning and was shopping at the mall (wearing sunglasses) that afternoon. I drove myself to my followup appointment the next day. They used local anesthesia with IV sedation (propofol). I would have preferred to skip the sedation, but my surgeon would not agree to it. I definitely would not recommend general anesthesia. All things considered, my decision to have the strab surgery was one of my best.

JodieJ · 01-25-2009, 06:40 PM

I forgot to mention a couple of things in my post above. I had surgery on one eye only--a left medial rectus recession. This obviously contributed to my quick visual recovery. I was able to read immediately after surgery. Your surgeon can give you more information about your own situation.

My strab surgeon had given me a computerized vision therapy program about three weeks before surgery. He didn't insist that I work with it, but I wanted a plan B. (I was told that my surgery had a 75% chance of success, and I was terrified of being in the unlucky 25%.) I spent hours working the program and made significant improvement in my divergence skills before surgery. I don't know whether this may have contributed to my rapid visual recovery.

KeelaC · 01-26-2009, 06:52 AM

Allerian: It is exceedingly common for strab patients to have more than one surgery in their lifetime.