Accommodation changes after strabismus surgery due to anterior ciliary vessel disruption

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation
• Vision Science

Background:

• Strabismus surgery aims to correct eye alignment.
• The impact of surgical techniques on visual function, particularly accommodation, requires further investigation.
• Anterior ciliary vessels play a role in ocular blood supply and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of strabismus surgery on monocular accommodation.
• To compare accommodation changes with and without anterior ciliary vessel preservation during surgery.

Main Methods:

• Sixty patients with horizontal concomitant strabismus were randomized into two groups: one with and one without anterior ciliary vessel preservation.
• Monocular accommodative amplitude (AA) and accommodative facility (AF) were measured preoperatively and 1 day postoperatively.
• Surgical and non-surgical eyes were analyzed separately within each group.

Main Results:

• No significant changes in AA and AF were observed in non-surgical eyes or surgical eyes with vessel preservation.
• A significant reduction in postoperative AA and AF was noted in surgical eyes where anterior ciliary vessels were not preserved.
• This indicates a negative impact of vessel non-preservation on accommodative function.

Conclusions:

• Strabismus surgery without anterior ciliary vessel preservation leads to reduced monocular accommodation.
• Preserving anterior ciliary vessels during strabismus surgery is crucial for maintaining accommodative function.
• This finding supports a modified surgical approach to enhance visual outcomes post-strabismus correction.