The surgical procedure used to correct misaligned eyes, often referred to as “lazy eye” surgery, is formally known as strabismus surgery. Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a vision development problem, while strabismus is the misalignment corrected by adjusting the eye muscles. This procedure aims to restore proper alignment and binocular vision. A common concern for patients and parents is the potential for pain, so this article details the measures taken to prevent pain during the operation and the expected discomfort during recovery.
Eliminating Pain During the Procedure
The process of strabismus surgery is designed to be completely pain-free for the patient. For children, the procedure is almost always performed under general anesthesia, ensuring they are fully asleep. An anesthesiologist closely monitors the child’s vital signs and depth of anesthesia throughout the surgery. Adults also have the option of general anesthesia, though some may choose deep intravenous sedation combined with a local anesthetic injected around the eye. In both scenarios, the patient is either fully unconscious or the eye area is completely numb, preventing pain during the manipulation of the extraocular muscles.
Managing Immediate Post-Surgical Discomfort
While the surgery is painless, patients will experience discomfort as the anesthesia wears off in the hours immediately following the procedure. The first 12 to 24 hours often bring a foreign body sensation, similar to having sand or an eyelash stuck in the eye. This scratchy feeling results from the surgical incisions made in the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white of the eye. The discomfort is typically mild to moderate, and rarely severe, though some patients may feel aching soreness, especially with eye movement.
Standard treatment involves over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, which are usually sufficient. For more complex surgeries, a mild prescription pain reliever may be used, typically limited to the first day or two. Many surgeons also apply long-acting local anesthetics at the surgical site to provide preemptive pain control.
Expected Symptoms During the Recovery Period
Once the initial post-operative discomfort subsides, patients should expect a range of noticeable symptoms in the following days and weeks. The most apparent symptom is a bright red appearance of the white part of the eye, known as scleral redness or subconjunctival hemorrhage. This is essentially a bruise that can take several weeks to a few months to fully disappear. Mild swelling of the eyelids and the conjunctiva (chemosis) is also common and usually resolves within the first week.
Tears may be slightly pink or blood-tinged for the first day, and the eye may have a mild discharge. Patients should gently wipe away any discharge with a clean cloth, taking care not to rub the eye.
Temporary Double Vision
Some patients, especially adults, may temporarily experience double vision (diplopia) as the brain adjusts to the new alignment of the eyes. This is not uncommon and typically resolves on its own within a few days to a few weeks. Activities like swimming and contact sports are restricted for several weeks to prevent infection or injury.