Strabismus Surgery

Realigning the eyes by adjusting the eye muscles

Overview

Strabismus surgery repositions or shortens one or more of the six extraocular muscles that move each eye in order to correct misalignment. Common techniques are recession, which moves a muscle insertion back to weaken its pull, and resection, which shortens a muscle to strengthen it. Adjustable sutures allow fine tuning after surgery in some adults. It is among the most common eye operations in children and is also performed in adults with long standing or acquired strabismus. Goals can include improving binocular vision, relieving double vision, reducing abnormal head postures, and restoring a normal appearance. More than one operation is sometimes needed.