Refractive Changes Induced by Strabismus Corrective Surgery in Adults.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Oculomotor Neuroscience

Background:

• Strabismus correction surgery aims to realign eye muscles.
• Adult strabismus surgery is common, but its impact on refractive error is not fully understood.
• Refractive changes can affect visual outcomes and patient satisfaction after surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify refractive changes following horizontal strabismus surgery in adults.
• To assess the clinical significance and direction of induced refractive shifts.
• To evaluate the stability of refractive changes post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of adult patients undergoing horizontal recti muscle surgery.
• Preoperative and postoperative cycloplegic refraction measurements were analyzed.
• Vector analysis was employed to assess astigmatic changes; clinical significance was defined as ≥0.5 D.

Main Results:

• Significant myopic shift in spherical equivalent and a with-the-rule astigmatism change were observed post-surgery.
• Refractive changes were clinically significant (≥0.5 D) in 40.9% of patients.
• In unilateral surgeries, significant changes were noted only in the operated eye.

Conclusions:

• Horizontal strabismus surgery in adults can induce significant refractive errors.
• Patients must be counseled on potential refractive side effects before surgery.
• Postoperative refraction assessment is crucial for managing visual outcomes.