U Strabismus repair
Strabismus repairs are performed to correct ocular malalignment. This malalignment may be esotropia (eyes deviate inward) or exotropia (eyes deviate outward). This procedure straightens the eyes cosmetically and allows the patient binocular vision by the lengthening or shortening of individual muscles or pairs of muscles. The specific muscles involved are the horizontal rectus and the oblique muscles.
A forced duction test is performed by the surgeon after induction and intubation by manipulating the sclera of the operative eye to aid the surgical plan. An incision is made through the conjunctiva in the area of the muscle to be manipulated. The muscle is then isolated and sewn back farther on the globe if the muscle tension is to be increased. If the muscle tension needs to be decreased, a segment of the muscle is removed.
2. Preoperative assessment
Strabismus repair is the most common ophthalmic surgical procedure performed on children. These children are usually otherwise healthy. There is, however, a higher incidence of strabismus in children with cerebral palsy and myelomeningocele with hydrocephalus. Malignant hyperthermia also is more common with children undergoing strabismus repair.