What is a squint?
A squint is where the two eyes don't point in the same direction and it is a condition which often runs in families. Squinting in adults can also occur if the nerves to the eye muscles, or the eye muscles themselves, are not working properly causing double vision.
What does surgery involve?
Squint correction is carried out under general anaesthetic and usually takes about 40 minutes. Your surgeon will make a small cut in the surface membrane of your eye and then separate one or more eye muscles from the surface of the eyeball.
Using small dissolvable stitches, your surgeon will then reattach the muscles, making them tighter or looser than they were before, depending on the correction that needs to be made.
Once the operation is complete your eyes will be covered with clear plastic shields.
When will I recover?
You will be able to go home the same or following day and your surgeon will advise when you should return to normal activities.
What are the risks involved?
Squint correction is a routinely performed minor operation and is considered safe. Nonetheless, all surgery and anaesthetic have some risk associated. Risks to all surgeries include infection, excessive bleeding, adverse reaction to anaesthetic or blood clotting.
Most patients do not suffer any complications or side effects however the following rare complications can occur:
- double vision which normally settles after a little while
- continued or worse squinting which may mean further surgery
