Eye Muscle Surgery Specialist

What is eye muscle surgery?

Eye muscle surgery is a delicate and precise operation to correct an imbalance in the tiny muscles around your eyes. The most common reason you might need eye muscle surgery is for strabismus, which is also known as crossed eyes. In most cases, Dr. Storm performs eye muscle surgery on children, although if adults have untreated strabismus, he also treats adults. 

What is strabismus?

Strabismus prevents your eyes from lining up correctly, which can cause lifelong vision problems if left untreated. Eye muscle surgery realigns your eyes so they both point in the same direction. 

While strabismus is often a congenital disorder, you may also develop the condition later in life because of:

• An eye injury
• Diabetes
• Tumor
• Retinal damage
• Stroke
• Cranial nerve palsy

Strabismus can impact your depth perception and cause double vision or reduce binocular vision. When left untreated, it can lead to vision loss. 

Are there alternative treatments for eye muscle surgery?

Depending on the extent of your eye muscle imbalance and how it affects your vision, Dr. Storm may also recommend:

• Prescription eyeglasses
• Vision therapy
• Prism therapy
• Botox®

Dr. Storm is committed to providing customized treatments to address your needs. He often tries nonsurgical treatments to correct strabismus before suggesting surgery.

What happens during eye muscle surgery?

Dr. Storm begins by providing a local anesthetic and sedative to help you stay comfortable throughout your procedure. He makes an incision in your conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers your eyes and inside of your eyelid to access your eye muscles. 

Once he has access to your eye muscles, he shortens or extends them as necessary to realign your eye. The process for one eye takes around 90 minutes. Depending on your needs, he can treat one or both eyes. 

What should I expect while recovering from eye muscle surgery?

You can go home when you recover from the sedative and Dr. Storm has checked your eyes. You may have some minor discomfort for a few days after your eye muscle surgery. Dr. Storm gives you customized aftercare instructions and may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointments. 

You have a follow-up appointment two weeks after your surgery. Dr. Storm may recommend vision therapy or the use of an eye patch to rebuild strength in your eye muscles. 

If you or your child has strabismus and you’re looking for an expert ophthalmologic surgeon, call Richard Storm, M.D. P.C. to make an appointment today.