strabismus

[chris83]

hello, i am in my early twenties and about to have strabismus surgery, it is my second surgery, the first surgery was 8 months ago. During the first surgery the surgeon only operated on one muscle, so i guess he will operate on the other muscle this time. Before the first surgery my right eye was turning out, and the eye has turned out again which is why i am having the second surgery.

I am told that the best way to get the eyes in alignment is to get fusion. My right eye turned out when i was 20 years old (although i was born with starismus), and i do see with both my eyes at the same time even though the weaker right eye is turned out. In fact after the first surgery when the eyes were in alignment the surgeon was surprised that i did not have any double vision.

So would it be possible for me to get fusion?

Also how many prismatic diopters does the eye have to be turned out or turned in before it is noticeable to other people looking at your eyes?

thanks in advance

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Suggest you talk to your Pediatric Ophthalmologist - he will be the best source of information on this subject.  In general surgeon would like you to get under 8-10 diopters of strabismus to give you a good result.  I cannot tell whether you can have fusion without knowing all your information.  You may never get exact central fusion but can get close enough that eyes look straight, stay stable and nearly straight and give you some improvement in depth perception.  All your questions can be easily answered by your surgeon.  Good Luck - your odds of success are very high.
MJK MD

[chris83]

Thanks doctor you have been very helpful, if you dont mind i have one more question. Are my odds of success very high because i see with both my eyes at the same time? or brcause of my age? or because i only had one muscle operated on last time?

thanks in advance

[chris83]

Hello again, if you dont mind could you tell me what aspects give me very high odds of success.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Sometimes it takes a second surgery to fine tune things.  I'll make a golf analogy.  Your chances of getting the ball in hole from 30 feet are greater if your are given 2 shots rather than just one.  The first surgery got you close - now the second surgery should be able to get you very close or right on.

Good Luck.

MJK MD

[chris83]

I think it is very good of you to help people with thier medical problems, thank you very much for your advice it has put my mind at ease while i wait to see my opthamologist.