ADVANCES IN SQUINT SURGERY

Squint surgery has become one of the most technically uncomplicated surgeries now. The outcome is mainly dependent on the careful planning and assessment of the patient before surgery. This needs a lot of knowledge and understanding on the part of the clinician and surgeon. Only an experienced and well trained surgeon can perform and give a good result.

Understanding the nature of the squint, the extent and severity and the possible future outcomes need to be understood before embarking on the squint surgery. It is easy to understand this based on tests performed in the clinic. Sometimes it is best to observe the squint for some months in an effort to understand the nature of the squint.

Surgery is technically simple especially for the patient. The patient walks in and walks out of the clinic after surgery. There is no need for special rest, the patient can watch TV, read and work on the computer.

The precautions would be not wetting the eyes for a month, so no swimming for a month and no head bath for a week.

Squint surgery has become technically simple to perform, scarless, and cosmetic in nature. Cosmetic because there is no scar of the surgery. There are no tell tale signs of surgery.

RESURGERY IN SQUINT

Most people wonder if operating again in a patient with squint is going to be successful. It is interesting to note that this is possible and one must realize that there are various ways by which one can increase the success rate of surgery.

Adjustable suture technique is a very useful method of ensuring that the results of squint surgery are good. The muscle is out on a shoe lace kind of knot and the same can be adjusted with the patient awake in the evening. This ensures excellent outcome and this can be shown to the patient also with the use of a mirror. 

Muscle surgery is quite forgiving and one can definitely operate again on muscles to ensure good outcome. Operating on the second eye can also give good results in patients.

Repeat surgery or a second or third surgery is definitely possible in squint and can give excellent results with the proper techniques....

SQUINT ---- TIMELY INTERVENTION

Time is crucial in the management of squint.....

It is important to understand that time is crucial in the management of squint. Time lost is going to cost the patient a lot and maybe include loss of vision. Hence it is important that one consults a pediatric ophthalmologist or squint specialist as soon as possible.

Many a times parents come with the complaint or doubt that the child seems to have a squint especially in the photographs. More often than not, there is no squint or there is a pseudo squint due to the exaggerated folds of the skin near the eyes. But sometimes there is a true squint which is actually present and can be treated. 

One must not forget that squint can itself lead to amblyopia or lazy eye. This can be a reason for vision loss or impairment in children. The earlier this is detected the better it is for the patient. 

Again the squint detected earlier is more amenable to treat with exercises or glasses and most cases may not need surgery or one can avoid surgery altogether. 

Many reasons you will agree to get the eyes checked and to rule out the possibility of a squint....