Squint, wandering or crossed eye, scientifically known as Strabismus, is a condition wherein the eyes point in different directions, sometimes necessitating squint surgery. Squint eyes among the adults can develop for many reasons. Some have developed misaligned eyes since childhood. These cases might have undergone some squint, surgery to correct the problem but the eyes have consequently tended to move outward or inward again. Another possible cause is the weakness of the eye muscles. This can be brought about by the damaging of certain nerves that stimulate the eye muscles, which can cause the eye to misalign.
Do I need squint surgery ?
Squint eyes can be treated. The options vary, from simple prescription of a pair of eyeglasses to realign the eyes, to the plastic prisms with the right strength, which can be placed onto the spectacle lenses, and later be incorporated in those lenses themselves.
Also, a drug can be used to correct squint eyes – Botulinum toxin, which weakens the eye muscle but this involves being injected for three to four months. Once the eye is totally numbed with anaesthetic drops, the Botox is injected directly into the right eye muscle, using a very thin needle. But regarding this option, squint surgery is considered the better treatment, as botox is a poison, with unpredictable side effects.
Squint surgery benefits
Squint Surgery aims to reduce double vision to an individual, if present, and at the same time, improves three-dimensional vision. This process can also help avoid the development of abnormal head posture, caused by double vision. This is classified to be a “reconstructive surgery”, and not a cosmetic procedure, for it changes the irregular appearance to a form that is more normal. Since squint or misaligned eyes directly affects a person and his total personality, squint surgery improves the psychosocial function, and employment status of an individual.
The squint surgery involves certain procedures of muscle strengthening and weakening combinations, to align the eye, under a general anaesthetic. The muscles of the eye are like thin flexible bands, and are found 5-6mm edging the coloured part of the eye, lying beneath the conjunctiva.
Squint surgery among many adult patients is carried out using a flexible stitch technique, where the muscles are joined back onto the eye with a bow knot. Surgeons employ this method, which allows them to fine tune the position of the eyes after the operation, with the patient awake, in case the eyes are not yet on proper points. The bow knot can be untied, and the position of the muscle changed, by first putting anesthetic drops to numb the eye, and then continuing until the correct eye position is completed. The squint surgery also involves extremely fine dispersing stitches that do not need to be cut out.
Post squint surgery
The patient’s eye might appear reddish, and become notably distressing for two to three weeks after the surgery, but most patients recover right after two to three days. Swimming is prohibited from two to three weeks after the operation, or until full recovery of the patient. Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops are prescribed for the eyes, to be used for the first two weeks after the surgery, to help avoid infection and reduce inflammation in the eyes, following squint surgery.