1. Types of strabismus |
2. Methods of treatment |
3. Surgery for strabismus |
4. Prognosis of treatment |
5. Surgery prices |
6. Leading hospitals |
Strabismus is a common ophthalmological pathology in children. The defect is not solely cosmetic, as it affects the child’s ability to see the outside world. It is characterized by decreased visual acuity and impaired ability to perceive volumetrically. The disorder requires long-term and complex treatment. The sooner it begins, the greater the chance of full recovery. Read this article to learn which methods are used abroad for the treatment of strabismus and how effective they are.
What is strabismus and what types of it are there?
Strabismus is the deviation of the visual axis of one or both eyeballs to the side. The disorder may be congenital or acquired. The second variant accounts for about 60% of all cases. If the eye is deviated toward the nose, strabismus is called convergent (70% of patients), if it is deviated toward the temple, it is divergent (20% of patients), and if it is deviated upwards or downwards, is vertical (5%). There is also a mixed form of strabismus.
As a rule, the disorder is initially non-permanent. It appears from time to time and resolves on its own. As the disease progresses, the eye increasingly “looks in the wrong direction”.
The disease usually develops in childhood, around 2-3 years of age. Children are most commonly diagnosed with paralytic strabismus. This occurs when the muscles in only one eyeball are damaged. Somewhat less common is concomitant strabismus which is a disorder of the visual axis in both eyes.
Therapy for strabismus should be started as soon as possible. It is important to recognise that some types of strabismus can only be corrected by surgery. The choice of treatment method depends on the form and severity of the disease and the age of the patient.
To go for treatment of strabismus abroad, leave your contacts. Our coordinators will call you back and help with all organisational issues.
Treatment options for strabismus
Each type of strabismus requires an individual approach to therapy. Some ophthalmologists say that it is not worth treating the disease before the age of 6. This is a great misconception. Early treatment of strabismus helps get rid of it with minimal effort.
The main aim of the treatment of strabismus is to restore the correct position of the eye and visual acuity. This is achieved using the following techniques:
Eye occlusion
The technique is effective in treating strabismus in preschool and primary school-age children. The patient wears special glasses that tape over the pane over the healthy eye. This forces the affected eye to “work harder”, strengthening the eye muscles and correcting strabismus. It may take more than one year to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect.
Strabismus eye exercises
These are special corrective exercises for the eyes. They are prescribed for mild forms of strabismus in children with a developing visual system. The exercises should be done several times each day.
Vision therapy exercises using machines
This method aims at complex stimulation of all eye structures with the help of computer systems and special equipment. It includes a complex of physiotherapeutic procedures that stimulate eye mobility and increase the resistance of the visual system to high loads. The courses should be repeated 2-3 times a year. For children, this therapy is conducted as a game. The final result is visible after 2-3 years.
Wearing special glasses and contact lenses
Some types of strabismus are caused by nearsightedness or farsightedness. When the patient starts wearing glasses to correct the visual abnormality, the strabismus goes away on its own.
Surgery
Surgical treatment of strabismus is recommended for patients who have not responded to previous therapy options. Surgery is used to treat strabismus in adults. The intervention shortens or repositions the eye muscles.
Botox
Botulinum toxin is used in the treatment of strabismus caused by stroke or trauma. It is also prescribed if surgery has not had the desired effect. Botox injections strengthen the muscles of the eye and restore their function.
Surgery to correct strabismus
Surgical correction of strabismus is used when conservative methods have been proven to be ineffective. It is also indicated for patients with severe forms of strabismus.
The surgery is carried out in children from 6 years of age. In complicated cases, it is possible to perform it at an earlier age.
There are two types of surgical treatment for strabismus in children and adults: resection or recession. In a resection surgery, the muscles are shortened, and in a recession, the place of muscle attachment is changed.
Strabismus surgery is done under general or local anaesthetic. It lasts less than one hour.
During the surgery, the eye is held open with an eyelid dilator. The surgeon carefully separates the part of the muscle that is attached to the eye. Then he or she cuts them open and moves them to a new position or resects them. The muscles are fixed in the new position with absorbable sutures that are hidden behind the eye.
The success rate for surgical correction of strabismus abroad is up to 90%. To have your surgery at one of the best eye clinics abroad, leave an application.
Recovery from strabismus surgery
Strabismus surgery does not require a long hospital stay. After the intervention, the patient stays in the clinic for a few hours. He or she is then sent home. It takes about 7-10 days to recover.
Redness and soreness of the eye after surgery are normal. The pain will go away in a few days and the redness fades in 2-3 weeks.
To speed up healing and minimise the risk of complications, the patient is prescribed medication: antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
After the surgery, a course of vision therapy helps restore the functions of the visual system. It is recommended for patients of all ages.
Complications after strabismus surgery
Side effects after strabismus surgery occur in 2 patients out of 1,000. This is one of the lowest rates among all ophthalmic interventions. The following complications of strabismus surgery occur in some patients
bleeding,
infection,
double vision,
visual impairment.
Does strabismus return after surgery?
The risk of relapse is higher in children over the age of 10. These patients may need to undergo a second intervention. In a few days after the surgery, the strabismus eye usually returns to its correct position.
This is an indication of a good final result. However, it takes 4-6 weeks to fully evaluate the treatment.
Top specialists in strabismus surgery
Halil İbrahim Altınsoy
The leading specialist in Turkey for surgical treatment of strabismus. He is the secretary of the Turkish Ophthalmological Society for the diagnosis and treatment of strabismus. The doctor is practising at Batıgöz Clinic. His work experience exceeds 38 years.
Manfred Tetz
One of the best specialists for strabismus surgery and refractive error treatment in Germany. He is regularly rated among the top ophthalmologists in the country. He has over 80,000 eye surgeries to his credit. Manfred Tetz has over 30 years of experience.
Cost of treatment for strabismus abroad
The cost of strabismus surgery depends on the degree of the disease and the intervention technique. This is also influenced by the level of the medical centre and the qualifications of the doctor. The cost of surgical treatment for strabismus in adults and children does not vary. The initial prices for strabismus surgery in various countries are as follows:
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| Turkey | from $2,200 |
| Israel | from $6,000 |
| Germany | from €5,000 |
| Korea | from $3,000 |
Leading clinics for the treatment of strabismus abroad
Summary
Strabismus is one of the most common childhood disorders. It can cause loss of vision which cannot be repaired unless treated in time. In this pathology, one or both eyes deviate from their axis to the side.
Treatment of strabismus in children includes the use of occlusion, eye exercises, wearing special glasses, apparatus techniques and surgery. In adults, strabismus is only treated by surgery followed by physiotherapeutic rehabilitation.
The cost of correcting strabismus depends on the method of treatment, clinic and doctor’s experience. Surgery to correct this condition costs +$2,200.
The following clinics are most often chosen by foreign patients for the surgical treatment of strabismus: BatyeGöz, DunjaGöz, Spreebogen, Shiba, Hadassah, Hangil, SoonChunHyang and the University Hospital of Cologne.
All types of strabismus treatment are available abroad for patients of different ages. They use minimally invasive techniques for the surgical correction of this pathology. For eye surgery, please contact MediGlobus.
Sources:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus
- The American Optometric Association
- All About Vision
