Is There A Deadline for Post-op Success?

**FLASH** Medical Bulletin: Surgery is not like the car repair shop. For starters, there is a lot more hand washing going on in the eye clinic! When you pickup your 1994 four-door from the service center you pay the bill and drive away. It's as good as it's ever going to be the moment you drive away.

The recovery period from eye surgery is very different. Patients often see worse immediately after eye surgery. There are many explanations and thing usually clear rapidly. Mild swelling of the outermost corneal epithelial cells is a familiar culprit. Once you are up and about (and blinking regularly) visual clarity quickly returns.

If you have had cataract or corneal surgery there may be an issue with astigmatism. Creating and closing a surgical incision can create some irregularities to the corneal curvature. Placing sutures is another contributor. Again, time, natural healing, and proper use of postoperative medications will make things right.

Now, what about eye muscle surgery - strabismus surgery?

During a strabismus procedure the surgeon loosens, lengthens, tightens, or relocates one or more of the 6 extraocular muscles that move each eyeball. The amount of adjustment is an estimate based on averages based on many thousands of similar procedures. Many eye muscle surgery patients experience double vision (diplopia) but there is no cause for alarm. So long as the two eyes are reasonably aligned following surgery the brain will take over and fuse the images. It might take a few weeks so temporary prism glasses may be prescribed to help the individual function with minimal symptoms.

What happens if symptoms persist after eye surgery?

Three months is a good standard. Surgeons are reluctant to re-operate during the first three months because they know that inflammation will eventually subside and the body's own healing powers will have a full opportunity to work their magic. Rushing in too early could lead to an overcorrection and that might require a third operation (read cranky patient!)

Remember, if things are not perfect immediately following eye surgery there is likely a good reason. That does not automatically mean a complication has occurred. Most of the time it is simply a matter of time before things improve. In the meantime keep washing your hands regularly!

Related Topics:

• LASIK Eye Surgery and Other Refractive Surgeries: An Updated Guide
• WebMD Video: Eye Surgery to Improve Vision

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