Is it true that nothing can be done about misaligned eyes in adults after a certain age?

No. There have been a number of advances in this field over the past several years that provide an opportunity to most of these patients to correct their misalignment.

I've been told that straightening the eyes of adults is strictly cosmetic.

After eye alignment surgery, some adults improve eye function and may gain social and economic benefits.

Am I too old to have my eyes straightened?

Eyes can be straightened at any age. If you feel that it will enhance your quality of life, you may want to consider it.

Won't straightening my eyes after all these years cause me to see double?

Double vision may occur after straightening eyes that have been out of alignment for many years. However, it is generally a transient problem, lasting for a few weeks until the brain adapts to the new eye position.

How successful is eye muscle surgery?

Usually most patients are successfully corrected in the straight-ahead position with one surgery only. Unfortunately, in some patients the surgery may be only partially successful. The eye alignment may also change over time, resulting in the need for additional surgery.

How painful is this type of surgery?

Discomfort can vary with the individual. Most of the discomfort after eye muscle surgery is a foreign body sensation in the eye, which lasts for a couple of days. Over-the-counter pain medication is often enough to reduce this discomfort, although your eye doctor may prescribe something stronger. Most patients can be back to full activity in several days.

I am embarrassed by my misaligned eyes. I avoid looking people in the eye. They seem to be distracted by my wandering eye. As a result, communicating is difficult, hampering me socially and in getting the job I want. Am I being realistic or paranoid?

Recent studies have confirmed these observations. We believe that misaligned eyes hinder social interaction, self-confidence and employment opportunities. We feel that patients deserve straight eyes whenever possible.

Do I have to be hospitalized for eye alignment surgery? How will this affect my normal activities?

Eye alignment surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, although the need for hospitalization varies depending upon your general health and the preference of your surgeon. Following surgery most patients return to nearly all of their normal activities within a few days.

How can I find out more about getting my wandering eye treated?

You can visit an eye specialist in your area who will refer you to a sub-specialist who have had special training in eye muscle problems. Some specialists restrict their practices to children but can recommend a colleague who has a special interest in adults. Your own eye doctor may also have a recommendation.

What are the treatment options for adult strabismus?

Strabismus can be treated in various ways. Depending on the individual case, treatment options include:

1. Glasses
2. Prisms
3. Patch
4. Botox injection
5. Surgery

Strabismus surgery is the only effective treatment in many of these patients. Surgical correction or strabismus in adults is reconstructive in nature and not cosmetic. The indications for strabismus surgery are:

1. Elimination of double vision (diplopia)
2. Improvement of three-dimensional vision
3. Expansion of visual field
4. Elimination of abnormal head posture
5. Improvement of psychosocial function
6. Improvement of vocational status