[The effect of horizontal strabismus surgery on the refractive status in children]

The refractive changes in 84 children (155 eyes) following horizontal strabismus surgery and in 97 children (181 eyes) without surgical intervention were studied. The results indicated that the spherical refraction and axis of astigmatism were not significantly affected by the operation, especially when both recession and resection were done on the same eye; however, the cylindrical refraction changed markedly within 6 weeks of surgery. These changes would be minimized and become stable 6 weeks after the operation, suggesting that the proper time for a cycloplegic refraction was 6 weeks after a horizontal strabismus surgery.