Twenty years after childhood strabismus surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Strabismus Research

Background:

• Infantile and acquired esotropia frequently require early childhood surgery.
• Many children undergo multiple surgeries and amblyopia treatment.
• Long-term effects of childhood strabismus on adult life are often unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term ocular alignment and life impact in adults treated for childhood esotropia.
• To assess the stability of surgical correction for infantile and acquired esotropia over decades.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of patients operated on for esotropia between 1977 and 1984.
• Patient contact attempts and clinical examinations of those successfully reached.

Main Results:

• High rates of sustained alignment: 78% for infantile and 90% for acquired esotropia at an average of 24 years post-surgery.
• Amblyopia treatment successfully preserved best-corrected visual acuity.
• Most patients reported no negative impact on educational or social achievements and considered themselves good readers.

Conclusions:

• Childhood esotropia correction generally results in stable alignment persisting into adulthood.
• Successfully treated childhood strabismus does not appear to hinder academic performance or career choices.