The eyeball is never removed from the socket during any kind of eye surgery. During strabismus surgery, the ophthalmologist makes a small incision in the tissue covering the eye to reach the eye muscles. Certain muscles are repositioned during the surgery, depending on which direction the eye is turning. It may be necessary to perform surgery on one or both eyes. When strabismus surgery is performed on children, a general anesthetic is required.
Local anesthesia is an option for adults.
Recovery time is generally rapid. People are usually able to resume their normal activities within a few days. After surgery, glasses or prisms may be useful. In many cases, further surgery may be needed at a later stage to keep the eyes straight. For children with constant strabismus, early surgery offers the best chance for the eyes to work well together in the future.