One in every several thousand may experience a significant complication. In some patients the eye alignment will change over time, resulting in the need for additional surgery. Discomfort can vary with the individual. Most of the discomfort after eye muscle surgery is a foreign body sensation in the eye, which lasts for several days. Patients routinely say that it is less painful than other surgical procedures such as tonsillectomy, appendectomy or gall bladder removal.
Most patients are back to full activity in several days.
Some surgeons suggest limiting swimming and heavy physical activity for a week or two after surgery. Eyes can be straightened at any age. If you feel it will enhance your quality of life, you should consider it. I avoid looking people in the eye. They seem to be distracted by my wandering eye.