Ask Our Experts

Get answers to your specific medical questions from UM Medical Center experts.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis via e-mail.

Eye muscle repair

Definition:

Eye muscle repair is surgery to align eyes or correct eye muscle abnormality ( strabismus ).

Alternative Names:

Repair of cross-eye; Resection and recession; Lazy eye repair; Strabismus repair

Description:

The surgery is most commonly done on children, but is also performed on adults with similar problems.

While the child is under general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free), a small incision is made in the tissue between the eye and eyelid ( conjunctiva ). One or more of the muscles of the eye are strengthened (resected) or weakened (recessed) to allow proper position and help the eye to move correctly. After a few hours of recovery, the child may go home.

The surgery for adults is similar. Adults are usually awake or sleepy, but pain-free. Often, in adult surgery, an adjustable suture will be used so that minor adjustments can be made later that day or the next day. This technique usually gives a very good result.

Indications:

Surgery may be recommended when strabismus or crossed eyes does not respond to medicine or glasses.

Walleyes

Before and after strabismus repair

Eye muscle repair - series

Review Date: 2/22/2007
Reviewed By: Manju Subramanian, MD, Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery, Boston University Eye Associates, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)