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Updated: May 14, 2026
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Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis
Published on: July 8, 2025
Severe complications of strabismus surgery
John A Bradbury1, Robert H Taylor
1Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, United Kingdom. John.Bradbury@bthft.nhs.uk
Summary
Severe complications from strabismus surgery occur in 1 in 400 UK operations. While poor outcomes are possible, most patients achieve good visual results after strabismus surgery.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Surgical Safety
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Strabismus surgery is common for correcting eye alignment.
- Understanding severe complication rates is crucial for patient safety and surgical practice.
- Previous data on strabismus surgery complications in the UK is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and types of severe complications following strabismus surgery.
- To assess the clinical outcomes of these complications.
- To evaluate the overall risk profile of strabismus surgery in the United Kingdom.
Main Methods:
- Prospective national surveillance of strabismus surgery complications from September 2008 to August 2010.
- Data collection via questionnaires at complication recognition and 6-month follow-up.
- Outcome grading (I-V) based on visual acuity and double vision.
Main Results:
- An overall complication incidence of 1 in 400 strabismus surgeries was identified.
- Most frequent complications included globe perforation (0.08%), slipped muscle (0.067%), and severe infection (0.06%).
- Poor clinical outcomes (vision loss or persistent double vision) occurred at a rate of 1 in 2,400 surgeries.
Conclusions:
- Severe complications from strabismus surgery, though relatively uncommon, carry potential risks.
- The majority of patients experience good clinical outcomes despite experiencing complications.
- This study provides essential data on strabismus surgery safety in the UK.
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