For many years, living with misaligned eyes, the girl often avoided direct eye contact, limited frontal photographs, and tended to adjust her gaze to hide the condition. She had undergone two previous strabismus surgeries, but her eye misalignment had not improved, affecting her communication and daily life.

Dr. Tran Ba Kien, from VISI Eye Hospital, noted the patient had complex strabismus due to multiple previous interventions. The medical team had to carefully assess her extraocular muscles and the degree of eye misalignment to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Following the corrective surgery, her eye alignment significantly improved, helping the girl become more confident.

The girl's eyes before (top) and after (bottom) strabismus surgery. Photo: Provided by hospital

According to Dr. Kien, strabismus affects aesthetics and can disrupt binocular vision coordination, especially in young children. If not detected and treated at the right time, children face an increased risk of amblyopia, a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss. Many parents tend to be complacent, only noticing their child's crossed eyes when looking at distant objects or when tired. However, with early examination, doctors can accurately assess the condition and select the appropriate treatment method, enhancing the effectiveness of visual recovery.

For example, a 5-year-old girl from Dong Nai, who was prematurely born, had received regular eye check-ups since childhood. Over the past year, her eye misalignment became increasingly noticeable. Doctors diagnosed her with bilateral esotropia (crossed eyes turning inward) with mild hyperopia (farsightedness) and prescribed corrective strabismus surgery. Another 2-year-old child's family noticed signs of eye misalignment, but the symptoms were not frequent, so it was not initially addressed. As the child grew older, the misalignment became more apparent. Doctors diagnosed bilateral exotropia (crossed eyes turning outward) and performed corrective strabismus surgery using a 5 mm recession of the lateral rectus muscle in both eyes.

Dr. Kien stated that a strabismus correction surgery lasts from 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the degree of eye misalignment and the complexity of the strabismus type. Generally, this is a relatively safe surgery. Its treatment effectiveness largely depends on accurate pre-operative examination, correct classification of the strabismus type, and the surgeon's experience. Therefore, an in-depth examination plays a crucial role in developing an appropriate treatment plan.

Dr. Kien examining a patient's eyes. Photo: Provided by hospital

Parents should take their children for an eye exam if they notice suspicious signs, such as misaligned eyes, head tilting when looking, squinting, or complaining of double vision. For adults, especially those who have undergone previous surgery without achieving desired results, an in-depth re-examination can still help improve eye function and aesthetics.

Le Phuong