Single minimal conjunctival incision for rectus muscles: a pilot feasibility study.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Minimally invasive approaches are preferred in strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia.
• Achieving a small conjunctival incision size is a key goal for patient comfort and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and patient tolerability of a small bulbar conjunctival incision (SB) technique.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of SB for extraocular muscle surgery.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized feasibility pilot study was conducted.
• A 3-4 mm conjunctival incision was made posterior to the rectus muscle insertion, followed by a hang-back recession and conjunctival closure.
• Outcome measures included feasibility, tolerability (pain, satisfaction), and motor alignment.

Main Results:

• The study included 25 patients, with a median pain score of 3/10 and a Net Promoter Score of 72.
• Mean operative time was 12 minutes, with inflammatory signs and hemorrhage resolving in approximately 2.2 and 8.5 days, respectively.
• Postoperative distance deviation at 2 months averaged 3.1 Prism Diopters.

Conclusions:

• Small bulbar conjunctival incisions (SB) are feasible for strabismus surgery.
• The SB technique is well-tolerated by patients undergoing extraocular rectus muscle surgery.
• This minimally invasive approach demonstrates promising results for strabismus correction.