[Specifics of strabismus surgery in adults]

To demonstrate that surgical approach in adult's strabismus offers not only cosmetic improvement, but also functional psychosocial benefits.

19 eyes from 17 patients operated in Eye Clinic, Iasi, between January 2002 and June 2004, with a follow up of 12 months, were enrolled in a retrospective study. Data regarding the history of the disease (onset, cause of deviation, previous treatments), ophthalmological examination (visual acuity, binocularity, deviation), type and the results of surgical interventions were evaluated.

Patients ranged in age from 16 to 71 years (mean 30). More than half were in the third decade. This aspect explain the option in choosing surgical treatment for two motivations: esthetic and to increase social interactions. 15 patients have strabismus since childhood and 3--associated with other ocular abnormalities. In 2 patients, the deviations installed at visual maturity as a consequence of sensorial deprivation (age related cataract, aphakia). There were 12 cases with exodeviation and 7 with esodeviations. Surgical approach consisted in resection (42.95% esodeviations, 58.33% exodeviations), recession (14.1% esodeviations, 25% exodeviations), resection-recession (42.95% esodeviations, 16.66 exodeviations). Postoperatively, we encountered successful ocular alignment in 73% cases 6 months later. We observed an increase of binocularity only in 4 patients.

Our data proved that surgical approach in adults' strabismus have, not only cosmetic and psychosocial benefits, but also functional improvement too.