Strabismus Correction in Tunisia: Restore Eye Alignment at Affordable Prices

What are the causes ?

Strabismus can have different causes, including:
Eye muscle problems: Imbalances or weaknesses in the eye muscles responsible for eye movement. eyes can cause strabismus.
Hereditary Factors: Strabismus can be inherited from parents. If one of the parents has a strabismus, there is a greater likelihood that the child will develop one as well.
Problems with eye development: Eye development problems, such as a difference vision between the two eyes (amblyopia) or a difference in refraction (such as farsightedness or nearsightedness), can contribute to strabismus.
Neurological problems: Certain neurological conditions, such as paralysis of the oculomotor nerves, accidents cerebrovascular diseases or brain tumours, can interfere with the control of eye movements and cause strabismus.
Environmental Factors: Factors such as stress, eye strain, eye trauma or eye infections can temporarily cause strabismus.

What are the symptoms ?

Symptoms of strabismus can vary depending on the severity and type of strabismus, but here are some common signs:
Eyes Deviation: The eyes are out of alignment and may be facing forward. inside, outside, top or bottom.
Double vision (diplopia): People with strabismus may see a double image, because the eyes do not focus on the same point.
Blurred or altered vision: Strabismus can cause reduced binocular vision and decreased depth perception.
Head tilting: Some children with strabismus may tilt or turn their heads in a particular position to compensate for the alignment of the eyes.
Eye fatigue: Strabismus can lead to increased eye strain, headaches or a feeling of eye strain.
Difficulty gazing: People with strabismus may have difficulty maintaining direct eye contact.

At what age can the repair be carried out ?

Strabismus correction can be performed at any age, from childhood to adulthood. However, most cases of strabismus are treated in childhood because early intervention can prevent potential complications and promote the normal development of binocular vision.
In many cases, treatment for strabismus in children can begin as young as a few months old, using glasses, eye patches, vision rehabilitation exercises, or other non-surgical methods. These approaches aim to strengthen the eye muscles and restore eye alignment.
If strabismus persists despite conservative treatment or develops later in life, surgery may be considered. Strabismus surgery aims to realign the eye muscles and restore eye alignment.

Are there non-surgical alternatives ?

there are non-surgical alternatives to correct strabismus, depending on some cases, such as:
Orthoptic exercises: specific exercises for the eyes performed under the supervision of an orthoptist or ophthalmologist can help strengthen eye muscles and improve eye alignment.
Prisms: Glasses with built-in prisms may be prescribed to help correct the strabismus by redirecting light to the retina of the deviated eye.
The patches: sticking a patch on the dominant eye can force the deviated eye to work harder, which can help strengthen muscles and improve eye alignment.

How to prevent its formation ?

There is no definite way to prevent the formation of strabismus, as in many cases it is due to genetic factors or conditions that cannot be prevented. However, there are a few steps you can take to promote good eye health in children and reduce certain risk factors:
Regular checkups: Be sure to have your child's eyes checked regularly by a healthcare professional, especially during the first years of life. This allows any signs of strabismus or other eye problems to be detected and treated early.
Treat underlying eye problems: If your child has vision problems, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism, make sure they receive appropriate treatment, such as wearing glasses or contact lenses prescribed by a medical professional.
Avoid excessive use of screens: Limit screen time and encourage your child to take frequent breaks when using electronic devices. Outdoor activities and other hobbies that promote movement and distance viewing are also beneficial.
Provide a stimulating visual environment: Provide your child with toys, books and activities that promote eye-hand coordination, as well as games that involve watching and following moving objects.
Prevent eye injuries: Make sure your child wears eye protection when participates in sports or games that could cause eye injury.
Encourage a balanced diet: Provide your child with a healthy, balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals essential for eye health, such as green vegetables, fruits, omega-3 rich fish, eggs and nuts.

Is it hereditary ?

Yes, strabismus can have a hereditary component. Studies have shown that there is a genetic predisposition to strabismus, which means that if one or both parents have strabismus, there may be a greater likelihood that their children will also develop strabismus. However, strabismus can also develop in people with no family history of the condition.
Genetics play a complex role in the development of strabismus, and it may involve the interaction of several genes and environmental factors. It is therefore possible that other factors, such as eye development problems or neurological problems, can also contribute to strabismus.

How is the surgery performed ?

Strabismus surgery aims to realign the eye muscles and restore eye alignment. Here is how strabismus surgery is usually performed:
Anesthesia: Prior to surgery, general or local anesthesia is administered to ensure patient comfort. The choice of anesthesia will depend on various factors, such as the age of the patient, the surgeon's preference, and the complexity of the procedure.
Incisions: The surgeon makes small incisions on the surface of the eye or in the conjunctival tissues. The incisions are usually minimal and are designed to allow access to the eye muscles.
Eye muscle adjustment: The surgeon identifies the eye muscles responsible for strabismus and adjusts them. Depending on the type and severity of the strabismus, muscles may be shortened, lengthened, moved, or strengthened to restore eye alignment.
Sutures and Closure: Once adjustments are made, the surgeon uses sutures to close the incisions. Sutures can be absorbable (which dissolve over time) or non-absorbable (which must be removed at a later follow-up visit).
Postoperative monitoring: After the surgery, the patient is usually monitored for a period of time to ensure that he is recovering Normally. Medications and postoperative care may be prescribed to promote healing and comfort.

What are the advantages ?

Strabismus surgery has several potential benefits, including:
Restoring Eye Alignment: The Main Benefit of Strabismus Surgery is to realign the eyes and correct their position, which improves the appearance and alignment of the eyes.
Binocular vision improvement: Strabismus can affect binocular vision, it is i.e. the ability of both eyes to work together to provide three-dimensional vision and depth perception. By restoring eye alignment, strabismus surgery can help restore better binocular vision.
Improved visual function: Surgical correction of strabismus may help improve coordination eye movements, gaze stability and the ability to track moving objects.
Increased self-esteem and confidence: Strabismus can have a psychological and social impact, especially in children. Surgical correction of strabismus can help improve self-esteem, self-confidence, and social interaction by reducing visual differences.
Reduction of associated symptoms: In some cases, strabismus surgery may help reduce symptoms such as double vision, headaches, and eye strain that may accompany uncorrected strabismus.

What are the risks and complications ?

Although strabismus surgery is generally considered safe and effective, like any surgical procedure, it comes with some risks and potential complications. Here are some of the possible complications:
Infection: Postoperative infection is possible, although rare. Strict hygiene measures are taken to minimize this risk.
Bleeding: Excessive bleeding during or after surgery may occur, but this is rare. Precautions are taken to control bleeding.
Allergic reactions: Some people may have allergic reactions to anesthetic drugs or materials used during surgery.
Recurrence of strabismus: In some cases, strabismus may recur after surgery. This may require a new intervention or other treatment approaches.
Eye Movement Limitation: In rare cases, surgery may result in eye movement limitation, which may affect eye mobility and coordination.
Persistent double vision: Although the surgery aims to reduce the double vision, it is possible that it persists partially or completely after the procedure.
Adverse reactions to anesthesia: Some people may experience adverse reactions to the anesthesia used during surgery.

What is the recovery time ?

Recovery time after strabismus surgery can vary from person to person, depending on several factors, such as patient age, complexity of the surgery, individual response to the procedure, and type of strabismus treated. Here is a general overview of the recovery period:
Immediately after surgery: After the procedure, you will be monitored in the recovery room for a short time. Your eye may be slightly sore and irritated. Eye drops and a bandage may be applied to protect the operated eye.
The First Days: During the first few days after surgery, you may experience eye discomfort, tingling, vision blurred or double, as well as redness and slight swelling around the eye. It is important to follow the postoperative instructions provided by your surgeon, including the use of prescribed medications and proper eye care.
The First Weeks: During the first few weeks, you should avoid strenuous physical activity, sudden movements, and wearing makeup around the eyes. You can gradually resume your normal daily activities, but it is recommended not to strain your eyes and to rest regularly.
Postoperative follow-up: Follow-up visits will be scheduled with your surgeon to assess healing, adjust sutures if needed, and monitor the results of the surgery. Follow-up visits may be spaced out over several weeks or months, depending on your situation.
Most patients see an improvement in their strabismus symptoms after surgery, but there may be an adjustment period for the eyes to fully adjust to their new alignment. Full recovery can take several weeks to a few months.

Can strabismus reappear after surgery ?

Yes, in some cases strabismus can reappear after surgery. Although strabismus surgery aims to realign the eye muscles and correct eye alignment, there are several factors that can influence long-term results. Here are some reasons why strabismus can come back:
Muscle readjustment: The eye muscles may undergo changes and adapt to the new position after surgery. This can cause some shifting in eye alignment over time.
Growth and development: In children, strabismus may recur due to the growth and development of the eyes and eye muscles. Growth changes can affect eye alignment, even after successful surgery.
Neurological or sensory factors: Strabismus can be caused by neurological or sensory issues that are not directly related to the muscles eyepieces. If these underlying issues are not treated, strabismus may persist or recur after surgery.
Recurrence of the underlying disease: In some cases, strabismus may be associated with an underlying condition, such as oculomotor nerve palsy or a specific eye disease. If the underlying disease is not treated or if it recurs, strabismus may also return.
It is important to note that the recurrence of strabismus after surgery is not very common, and most patients benefit from a lasting correction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, strabismus is an eye disorder in which the eyes are not aligned properly. Strabismus surgery can be an effective treatment option to realign eye muscles and correct eye alignment. However, it is important to note that strabismus surgery comes with risks and potential complications, and results may vary from person to person.