Diagnosis and management of lost muscle following strabismus surgery

Of all the complications of strabismus surgery, the lost muscle is one of the most alarming, and yet with patience and careful management it may be one of the most amenable to treatment. This paper reports seven cases of lost muscle following strabismus surgery. In six of the seven cases referred to the Department of Clinical Ophthalmology there had been delay in diagnosis for periods varying from six weeks to 17 years. All the lost muscles were successfully retrieved. With good illumination and magnification and a careful search of the sub-Tenon's capsule space it is unusual to need to explore the orbital fat to retrieve the muscle.