Strabismus is a vision condition. In this condition, eyes do not align properly because of which both eyes are not able to focus on the same object. Strabismus may sometimes cause Amblyopia. Most people are confused between Strabismus and Amblyopia. Amblyopia is also known as lazy eye.
When one eye is weaker compared to the other one, it is said to be lazy eye. The brain does not acknowledge what the amblyopic or bad eye sees. Usually, surgery is not done for lazy eye. However, reports suggest that amplyopic eye benefits from strabismus surgery.
The eye muscles are either made less tight or may be tightened in this surgery. It may return the alignment to normal. Here are some instructions given to cope with pediatric strabismus surgery when a doctor prescribes surgery for your child.
Pediatric Strabismus Surgery
Instructions
- Make sure you don’t follow other treatment options. Problems of strabismus can be treated with patching, glasses, eye exercises and dilating the eye.
- Know that age also matters. The success rate of this surgery is high when it is done at a younger age. However, there is a change in the eyes all throughout the life. Surgery may be needed again and again.
- Visit a primary pediatrician and receive a health bill for surgery and send a health history to the location of surgery.
- Before surgery, do not drink or eat for 12 hours. At the time of surgery, a mask is placed over the child in order to put him/her to sleep. Then, anesthesia is administered.
- After surgery, give your child Tylenol for pain. Apply cold compress if the eye is painful or itchy.
- Don’t force the child to eat. Make sure that he drinks enough.
- Take care of your child so that he doesn’t involve in any strenuous physical activity for about five days.
- Visit your doctor regularly within a week of the eye surgery.