Your child’s strabismus operation – what to expect.
Before the operation:
Preop visit:
- Check vision – better vision will help the eyes stay together after the operation
- Check the eye position measurements
- Discuss any new medical health issues/medications
- Discuss postop strategies, risks, answer questions
Need to do:
- Admission forms – sign, deliver
- Glasses – if the glasses have prisms, collect glasses with no prism for use after the operation
- Chemist – make up antibiotic ointment, bring to hospital
- Time off – school, no swimming for 1 month
Day of op:
- NB must be well
- Bring ointment with you to the hospital
Preop anaesthetic check:
- Discussion/check with the anaesthetist
In theatre:
- One parent/carer is encouraged to come into theatre with your child until they are asleep. The anaesthetists are very experienced with children. Their anaesthetic induction techniques vary depending on the child.
- Bring your antibiotic ointment with you into theatre, for us to use at end of the operation.
- At the end of the operation, antibiotic ointment and anaesthetic drops are put into both eyes.
In Recovery:
- You will come into recovery and be with your child as they wake.
- The eyes will have lots of ointment and look red.
- Dr Dunlop will give you some postop information and medication sheet
- Glasses on when fully awake.
- Remember to take home your antibiotic ointment from the hospital
Overnight:
- Put some more ointment into the operated eye/s when you go to bed later at night ie when your child is asleep
- Your child will sleep well through the night
Next day:
- Put some antibiotic ointment into the operated eye/s. This will lubricate the surface and reduce irritation/tearing.
- The eyes will be red and blurry from the ointment.
- Glasses must be on and hopefully both eyes open.
- Dr Dunlop will check the eye position, discuss how to use the ointment (it is “soft”) and any concerns.
Postop period:
- Use medications as per postop instruction sheet
- Eye position – this will vary while the eyes heal
- Glasses on – this will keep the vision clearer
- Eye exercises – the operation has loosened the muscles. Stretch eye exercises prevent tightening of the muscles again.
Glasses check at 6 weeks:
- Dr Dunlop will recheck the eye refraction measurements with dilating (cycloplegic) drops
- The glasses may need updating postop. Clear vision is important to keep the eyes aligned.
Longterm:
- Vision – if the vision is not clear the eyes may turn/change position. Eye measurements change as children grow, so glasses need to be updated, especially after growth spurts.
- Eye muscles – continue stretch eye exercises to stop tightening of the muscles
- Further operations may be required, perhaps when your child is an adult starting reading glasses.