|
Visitors: 231837
|
|
Surgery of the Eye Muscle |
|
|
|
|
Written by Webmaster
|
By Dennis Tavies
 Strabismus, or Lazy Eye, can be corrected with Eye muscle surgery. The procedure makes the eye appear straight, not turned inward, up, down or to the side.
Any patient who suffers from such eye problems can be treated with Eye muscle surgery. However, there are some conditions for which this treatment is not recommended. Two such conditions include a fibrous band or a nerve palsy of the eye muscle.
How Is the Surgery Performed?
When eye muscle surgery is performed on children a general anesthesia is required. Adults can usually tolerate local anesthesia. Generally, the procedure is performed in an outpatient hospital in a same day surgery setting.
Prior to eye muscle surgery, the doctors take thorough measurements to determine the degree of muscle imbalance. They will then know how much surgery should be performed on the eye muscle. The first step of the surgical procedure is to separate the eye muscle from the side of the eyeball.
The eye muscle is then reattached at another position. Surgeons use special stitches that do not need to be removed after surgery. Should the
eye muscle need to be tightened, part of it is removed, or the surgeon makes a tuck before reconnecting it to the eyeball.
Finally, the membrane layer that covers the eye muscle is put back into place. The same type of nonremovable stitches are used to secure it.
The patient is then taken to a recovery room to be closely supervised for a short period of time. The medical staff will check the patients pulse, blood pressure and breathing frequently. Some patients experience nausea after eye muscle surgery. Medication is given to abate this condition. Pain medication is usually prescribed to reduce discomfort and an eye patch is often applied to protect the eye.
What Happens After You Go Home?
Most patients are able to go home the same day as the surgery is performed. Ointment or eye drops are often used at home to prevent infection and reduce swelling. During follow-up visits, the doctor will check the patient's vision, examine the new position of the eye and monitor the healing process. Eye muscle surgery is often followed by poor vision in one eye accompanied by muscle weakness. In such situations, additional treatment is required to improve vision. This treatment can include eye drops, eye exercises, and a patch on the healthy eye or sometimes glasses are necessary.
Risks for Eye Muscle Surgery
Any surgery using anesthesia involves certain risks and possible complications such as infection, bleeding and unexpected reactions to the anesthesia. Additionally, the eye muscle can sometimes be under or over corrected. In such cases, a second surgery may be necessary.
Choosing an experienced and highly skilled surgeon may reduce the risk of under or over correction, although it won't eliminate it completely. Following the doctor's indications carefully can also help reduce the risk for infection.
Dennis Tavies interviews patients after eye surgery and publishes his findings through a series of articles. Read more at Info 4 Eye Surgery. |
|
|
