Satisfaction with strabismus surgery based on the opinion of expert surgeons

To assess the perception of strabismus surgeons in Spain regarding patient satisfaction after surgery, by analysing the types of strabismus with the most satisfied patients, as well as the causes of dissatisfaction.

A survey was carried out among the members of the Spanish Strabology Society who were over 50 years of age, active in Spain, with more than 20 years of surgical experience, and whose main surgical activity was strabismus. The questionnaire consisted of 18 questions about the perception of patient satisfaction according to the type of strabismus, patient age, as well as the most frequent cause of dissatisfaction after surgery.

The questionnaires were completed by a total of 29 surgeons, with a mean of 31 years of surgical experience. The most frequent cause of perceived dissatisfaction was residual strabismus. No differences were found in the satisfaction index between children and adults. The surgery that was considered to produce greater satisfaction was endotropia, followed by decompensated 4th nerve palsy, and exotropia, while 3rd nerve palsy was the cause of the most dissatisfaction.

According to strabismus surgeons, endotropia is the most satisfactory surgery for the patient, followed by exotropia, vertical strabismus, and traumatic paralysis of the 4th cranial nerve.