Common problems after surgery are:

• Nausea: This is possible after a general anaesthetic. It can be relieved by medication.
• Pain: Pain and discomfort last for a few weeks and can be relieved by simple painkillers.
• Gritty eye sensation is usually caused by the sutures (stitches) and this settles after a few weeks. Please stop your child from touching or rubbing the eye(s).
• Swelling: It is common to notice mild swelling of the area around the eyes. This usually lasts 1-2 months.
• Watering is very common for the first few weeks. Blood can be seen on the tissue when the eye is wiped.
• Allergic reaction to the eye drops: Drops should be stopped and a different type of antibiotic might be given.
• Blurred vision: This is common in the operated eye and it will usually improve over several weeks. New glasses can be required.
• Persistent visual problems: This surgery does not correct long-standing visual problems from strabismus (“lazy eye”) or the cause of strabismus. Glasses and/or prisms may still need to be worn after surgery.
• Double vision: Some children may experience double vision while the brain adapts to the new alignment. The double vision usually disappears in a few days in children and up to a fortnight in young adults; in some patients, it may persist even longer, come back or be permanent. Patients can usually learn to ignore one of the images. If not, prism glasses may be prescribed.