Strabismus:
After my strabismus surgery how long will my eye
be red? Over the first 2 weeks post surgery most of the redness
will clear. There will be some remaining redness over the area of the
sutures until they are fully dissolved. This will take 6-12 weeks to occur.
Does eye surgery ever cause nausea?
Post surgery there is a risk of nausea. This is best treated with gravol or
similar medications.
How will strabismus surgery affect my vision?
Typically strabismus surgery itself does not affect the vision of
each eye individually. This surgery will help to better align your eyes. In
this way We hope to; in the case of children provide them with the
opportunity to learn how to better use their eyes together, and in the
Adult; possibly recover past ability to use the eyes together. The recovery
or learning to use both eyes together remains difficult to quantify. We do
know however that the best results are achieved buy aligning the eyes at as
young an age as possible. Finally: eye alignment will in most cases bring
the visual field to a normal range.
I see a little bump on the surface of my eye
after surgery what is it and will it go away? During the surgery
one major stitch (suture) was placed to hold each muscle that was moved.
These sutures will dissolve over a 6-8 week period of time. Until they have
dissolved a bump will be visible. This bump may be reddish in colour. Time
alone is required to allow the sutures to dissolve and the surface to heal
completely.
Were stitches used during my strabismus surgery?
Yes. During the surgery one major stitch (suture) was placed to
hold each muscle that was moved. These sutures will dissolve over a 6-8 week
period of time. There were also some sutures placed on the surface layer of
the eye (conjunctiva). These were placed to help keep all tissues in the
best possible position for healing to provide the best post operative
appearance.
What is the black or purple dot on my eye after
strabismus surgery? These dots are the sutures placed at the time
of surgery. They will dissolve or fall out over 2-12 weeks post surgery.
What should I avoid after strabismus surgery?
It is most important to keep the eyes clean for 2-4 weeks post
strabismus surgery. This will allow proper healing and help to prevent
infection.
What type of pain killers are needed after
strabismus surgery? On the day of surgery you will be given pain
killers at the hospital. After going home most people feel that
Acetaminophen (Atasol, Tylenol etc.) is usually sufficient. A cold cloth or
even an ice pack used a few minutes on then a few minutes off helps to
maintain comfort for a few days after surgery. It is best to avoid ASA or
aspirin type preparations as they can lead to further bleeding.
When can I return to work or school after
strabismus surgery? Typically after strabismus surgery students
should stay home for 1 week. They may then return to school but must stay
out of swimming pools, and dirty places for an additional 2-3 weeks. They
may then resume all activities. ADULTS: must similarly keep the eye area
clean for 2-3 weeks. Thus return to work depends on the type of work. If you
wish to do paper work, reading or anything clean you may return to it as
soon as you feel well enough. Typically this is 3-14 days. For extremely
dirty environments 3-4 weeks off work is suggested.
When should I be concerned about discharge?
If there is a very greenish discharge, especially if associated with
a big change in vision, significant worsening of pain, or redness you should
call the office and be rechecked as soon as possible.
When can I expect my eyes to reach their best
position after strabismus surgery? Often we can get a good ideal
of the eye position within 1 month of surgery. Healing does continue and the
eye position may continue to shift for a year (or in some cases) more after
surgery.
Will I require additional surgery for my
strabismus? Eye movements are initiated in the eye movement
centers of the brain, then travel along nerves to the eye muscles. When any
part of the system is not working correctly strabismus occurs. As you can
imagine this is an extremely complex system. Prior to your surgery we
measure the eye deviation, and using that along with your medical history to
determine the best treatment. In most cases we are
quite accurate and get the eyes 80-90% straighter. At times when we
are not as accurate as we wish, and we over or under correct the eye
position, we may end up with a residual strabismus. We then continue as we
do with all cases after surgery by following and measuring your eye
deviation. If we find that the deviation remains significant and we feel
after discussing this together that we have a high chance to improve the eye
position further we may consider further surgery. In
all cases we will discuss in detail the risks and benefits of surgery with
you prior to your surgery. We work as a team together with you and want you
to play an active role in you or your Childs care.
Will there be bleeding after my strabismus
surgery? Often there will be some bleeding the day of surgery.
Occasionally (especially in complex and re-operative cases) the bleeding may
continue for a few days after surgery. This if not dangerous and will clear
with time. You may also expect some yellow mucous discharge due to the
irritation from the sutures. This may continue for 3-5 days post surgery.
Just take a cloth, gauze, or cotton ball with some warm water to clear it
away.
Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Squint
What is the effect of
botulinum toxin? The effect of botulinum toxin is to cause a
paralysis of the muscle into which it has been injected.
How long
has it been in use? Botulinum
toxin was introduced for the treatment of Squint in 1979
Will
it affect my general heath? The treatment is perfectly safe
and there is no risk to general health. In particular, there is No risk of
developing botulism or food poisoning. There is no known risk when the
Treatment is given to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, but some
patients prefer to postpone treatment until this is over.
Who will I see when If
attend the clinic? To begin with, you will have an
examination by an orthoptist. Then you will see the consultant
ophthalmologist (Dr. Budning). If the treatment is suitable for you, all
risks and benefits will be reviewed and you and an appointment for treatment
will be arranged
What is the procedure
for the treatment? You will be given local anesthetic drops
to numb the eye. These drops are very effective in taking away the surface
sensation of the eye, but you should note that there will still be some
discomfort as the injection is given, especially if you have scar tissue
around the muscle from previous surgery. You will then have some wires
attached to your forehead. These will be attached to an amplifier and
loudspeaker, to allow the injection to be given exactly into the muscle, by
monitoring the electrical activity of the muscle. You will hear this through
the loudspeaker during the injection.
What happens when I
have had the injection? You will be asked whether you prefer
a pad on the eye, or to wear your own glasses. The eye is numb after the
drops, and should be protected for about 2 hours in case something blows
into the eye without your knowledge. You may feel an ache in the eye after
injection. If that is not better in an hour, take whatever medication you
would usually take for a headache.
When should I expect
to see an effect from the treatment? The effect is usually
noticed about 2 days after the injection is given.
How long does the
effect last? This varies a lot, but it usually lasts for
weeks, occasionally months, but then will wear off. To begin with, you may
notice a temporary reversal of the squint, followed by gradual straightening
of the eyes as the paralysis wears off.
What are the possible
side-effects? Temporary reversal of the direction of the
squint. Temporary double vision. If this is significant and bothersome you
should not drive unless you cover one eye. Temporary drooping of the eyelid
on the injected side. This usually resolves after a few weeks. Slight
bruising of the surface of the eye. All these will get better without
further treatment.
When do I return to
the clinic? We like to see all our new patients one or two
weeks after the injection. If the first injection did not produce an
adequate effect, we may offer a repeat injection at that visit.
Other
important information.
If you
have any reason to believe that you may be a carrier of hepatitis or HIV
virus, please make sure that you tell the doctor who sees you in the clinic.
The information is confidential, but it is essential that we are informed.
We dispose of all injection needles
after one use, so there is no risk of cross-contamination or infection.
If you are not clear about any aspect
of this treatment, please ask the doctor for an additional explanation.
Cataract surgery
After my Cataract surgery how long will my eye
be red? Often there is mild redness about the eye for 2 weeks
post surgery. This will clear with time and is not dangerous.
What type of pain killers are needed after
Cataract surgery? Cataract surgery is usually painless, and post
operatively either no medications or Acetaminophen (Atasol, Tylenol etc.)
may be used. Occasionally patients experience a headache which can be
treated with these same medications. On the first pot operative day visit
you will be given eye drops to help the eye heal well, and for comfort.
What should I avoid after Cataract surgery?
You should avoid vigorous activities, heavy lifting and bending
for a few weeks. Keeping the eye clean and not pressing on it are the most
important things to remember.
When can I return to work or school after
Cataract surgery? Typically it is helpful to take it easy for a
few days after surgery. You may experience some light sensitivity that is
best treated with dark glasses. You may return to reading and paperwork
within a few days if you feel up to it. You should avoid vigorous
activities, heavy lifting and bending for a few weeks. On the day after
surgery all the issues relating to post op care will be reviewed.
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