Squint correction surgery as an adult

[Lpid2014]

so I had a really bad squint at birth which was corrected with surgery at 4 months old (because it was that bad) I had surgery again at 8 years old to fully correct it. Now in my thirties it is terrible again, my eye just does what it wants and I can’t control it. I’ve tried exercises to increase muscle strength but ultimately I think I will need more surgery. My optician keeps increasing my glasses so description for that eye which only helps very slightly. I’m now extremely more self conscious and often look down when I talk to people so they don’t see. Has anyone had this situation and had the surgery again as an adult? Has it lasted?
I just think there’s not much point having more surgery if it doesn’t work for long.
my beautiful little boy was also born with it and both eyes. He had surgery last year on one eye and the squint was completely corrected. I’m worried for him too that he will keep needing surgery.
any advise or similar stories greatly appreciated. Thanks

I've got no medical expertise I'm afraid - what does your eye doctor say? Have they explained why they're not recommending surgery?

I had the corrective surgery when I was little, similar ages to you but I had a third surgery when I was 11. Apparently the eye doctor (sorry, cannot remember the proper word 😂) told my parents that two operations wouldn't be enough (I guess because the eye structure was still growing?) but that the third would sort it permanently.

It still 'goes' sometimes when I'm tired (or drunk) but doesn't really cause me any trouble.

However I don't know whether the op is recommended for adults.

Hey, I had surgery to correct a squint in my left eye when I was 30 (13 years ago). I'm so glad I did it, I'd become extremely self conscious and would avoid having my photo taken and hated looking at people straight on. The recovery was about a month. It's one of the best things I've ever done.

I have divergent strabismus (wandering rather than permanent), and had 3 operations between ages 6 and 8. It is mostly under control, only emerging when I am very tired or look a certain way.

I noticed in my 30s that I was struggling to control it again, and my ophthalmologist suggested Botox in the eye muscle. Did the trick.

I'm not saying that's right for everyone, but something to explore with your doc.

Yes to the drunk wandering eyes 🤣🤣🤣

Sorry, I forgot to add - my brother was born with a squint (mine developed over time from about 12 years old) and he had surgery to correct it when he was 2 (about 1984) which wore off. He chose to have his operated on again a couple of years after I had mine done and the results were brilliant.

Botox can be a good temporary option, the squint surgery may last longer this time, there's no real way of knowing. However, you have very little chance of getting it done on the NHS.

I had surgery at 11 and 18, and I still have (at 50) an unstable squint which I have a lot of prisms for and which I struggle to control if tired or drunk. The surgery at 18 was fine though, and stopped me needing fresnel prisms to control my double vision.
When ds was little he looked like he squinted (it was a trick of his nose shape) and the orthoptist and opthamology teams got very excited that I was an adult squinter and offered me more surgery, but I had so much correction before that it wasn't a good option apparently

My squint only developed in adulthood. I had Botox in the muscle that was pulling my eye in the wrong direction - always wore off after a year or so and then I was back to how I was before the Botox, with a very noticeable squint if I tried to look at anything beyond about 6 feet away. Had that a few times before getting referred to Moorfields for the surgery. I had the op 2021 (in my late thirties, with a young baby at home!) and I’m over the moon with the results. Definitely ask your doc to refer you to Moorfields if there are any barriers to getting it done locally - I found them absolutely fantastic.

Recovery was a bit rough for the first couple of weeks, lots of pain, but nothing that couldn’t be managed with some co-codamol to take the edge off. I was breastfeeding (not EBF) and got the all-clear to take it for two weeks after the op. I did need lots of help with baby for that fortnight as well, luckily had a family member available 24/7 at the time!

Depending on how self-conscious you are now, it could boost your confidence so much, stop you avoiding eye contact or photos, you’ll be able to engage properly with people when you’re talking to them. I’m very happy I had it done.

I had my second surgery at the age of 48 (first surgery as a baby had corrected horizontal squint buy eye still "wandered" upwards). Whilst not absolutely perfect, it is no longer obvious to anyone but me and I feel so much better about myself.

I’ve had squint surgery twice as an adult, both in my 40s. The first squint surgery was to weaken one of the muscles which as it healed over time the squint slowly returned hence needing the second surgery. The second surgery was a tightening of a different muscle in the other eye which has given me longer. Five years so far for the second surgery.

If you want to PM me for more details please do. As others have said above, I would recommend it. Your eye heals very quickly after the surgery and I saw an appreciable difference both times.

My dd had it corrected at age 3 with success but it needed repeating at 20 this time it was partially successful. Whilst it's not ideal the operation/recovery isn't too bad so worth it in my opinion. It did give her headaches two she's happy they have gone.

My 24 year old daughter had surgery when she was 2 after a squint developed when she was one year old. One eye would turn in and if patched then it would swap to the other eye. After surgery it appeared straight for a few years but gradually started to turn out and up.

As a teen she did not want surgery. When 21 she spoke to GP for a referral as affecting confidence and hated photos. NHS Consultant advised she could have surgery but wouldn't be perfect due to how bad squint was. She had to wait for 2 years due to Covid but had op last October. It was a difficult recovery and very painful but totally worth it. If you look closely you can see light reflects slightly off centre on her pupil and it still wanders if tired, but overall she really happy with the outcome. It's not guaranteed that it won't get worse, and she's probably not suitable for more surgery.

no harm in asking for the specialist referral, my dh had an attempt to correct his later in life (say mid 40's) and the muscle was too tight and the surgery's effect didn't last.

no harm in asking, i will be researching the botox option for him this month.

Thank you. I’m glad it went well x

@FedUpWithBriiiiick thank you! That’s interesting about Botox. Was this covered under the NHS? How long ago did you have this done and how long did it last? X

Yes was NHS although a long wait for first consult. I didn't even know Botox treatment was a thing before it was "prescribed"!

To be honest, my loss of control was quite slight so I didn't need any more doses.

It's nice to hear from others who also have strabismus. 👍

Thanks for this thread OP 😊

Oops forgot to say this was in 2016/17.

@underneaththeash thank you. I will look in to the Botox. My sons eye surgeon already said I could have squint correction surgery again if I wanted (NHS) she also said my son could go back in 20 years (or however long) and have it done again if needed.

Ds was born with a squint . At his last appointment they told us that surgery would be too risky as it is slight and the muscles could pull the other way . They recommend that if it bothers him as he grows up he can opt for it to be treated with Botox ( NHS) .

@FedUpWithBriiiiick thats really good to know! I didn’t know Botox was an option either, thank you! I will definitely look in to this and see if my GP/optician will refer.

and you’re welcome! I’ve read so much about it the past year or so with my little boy having his surgery too. He had a vertical and horizontal muscle cut in one eye, as his eye turned in and up. He can have the other eye done whenever we feel he’s ready however, since having his other eye corrected it seems to have straightened it a little or it’s just less noticeable. So I’m hoping it stays like this for many years for him.
x

@FedUpWithBriiiiick
This is my son - left photo day after surgery and the right photo the morning of his surgery! His eye is so perfectly straight now!