Strabismus surgery for children with developmental delay

To describe recent evidence regarding the surgical approach of strabismus in children with various forms of developmental delay.

There remains variability in surgical outcomes with or without dose adjustment in strabismus surgery for children with developmental delay. However, this should not deter one from performing surgery - even early surgery, as fusional potential remains possible, which can especially impact the quality of vision and quality of life in developmentally delayed children.Future prospective, comparative, long-term studies with larger sample sizes for strabismus surgery in children with developmental delay are still needed.

Strabismus is one of the most common ophthalmologic findings in children with developmental delay. Surgical correction of strabismus in children with developmental delay is well tolerated and effective, although it remains slightly less predictable, which can depend on the specific type of delay or underlying neurological deficit. Careful consideration of types and severity of developmental delay and attempts to measure binocular potential can help guide the timing, dosage, and type of treatment.Reoperations tend to be more frequently encountered in this population, and this higher degree of variability should be addressed in the consent process.Considering adjusting the surgical dosage in this population, taking careful preoperative measurements, and checking for fusional potential should be taken into account when managing children with developmental delay.