Our Summary

This study looked at differences in how kids with and without a condition called strabismus move their eyes when they read, and whether surgery for strabismus can improve eye movement. Strabismus is when the eyes don’t line up with each other. The eye movements of nine kids with this condition, who were between 11 and 15 years old, were tracked while they read a text in three different ways - with both eyes open, and with each eye covered in turn. This was done before and six months after they had surgery to correct their strabismus. Their results were compared to kids of the same age who didn’t have strabismus.

The study found that kids with strabismus spent longer looking at the words (fixation) than kids without the condition. They also read faster when just their dominant eye was open compared to when both eyes were open. After surgery, the kids with strabismus were able to read faster and spent less time fixating on the words. The number of times they moved their eyes backwards while reading (backward saccades) also dropped significantly after surgery. The conclusion was that strabismus affects eye movements during reading and reducing the squint can help kids understand words better.

FAQs

  1. How does strabismus surgery affect eye movement performance in children?
  2. What differences were observed in eye movements during reading between strabismic children and non-strabismic children?
  3. How does strabismus surgery impact reading speed and fixation duration in children?

Doctor’s Tip

A helpful tip a doctor might tell a patient about strabismus surgery is to expect an improvement in reading speed and comprehension after the surgery. The surgery can help reduce fixation duration and decrease the number of backward saccades, ultimately leading to better eye movement performance during reading. It is important to follow post-operative care instructions and attend follow-up appointments to ensure the best possible outcome.

Suitable For

Strabismic children who experience impaired eye movements during reading are typically recommended for strabismus surgery. This procedure can potentially improve reading speed, decrease fixation duration, and reduce the number of backward saccades, ultimately leading to better word comprehension.

Timeline

Before strabismus surgery:

  1. Strabismic children experience impaired eye movements during reading.
  2. The duration of fixation is longer in strabismic children compared to non-strabismic age-matched children.
  3. Reading speed is slower in strabismic children.
  4. Backward saccades are more frequent in strabismic children.

After strabismus surgery:

  1. Eye movements during reading improve in strabismic children.
  2. Surgery allows for an increase in reading speed and a decrease in fixation duration.
  3. The number of backward saccades significantly decreases after surgery.
  4. Better word comprehension is achieved after surgery.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What are the potential risks and complications associated with strabismus surgery?
  2. How successful is strabismus surgery in improving eye movements during reading?
  3. What is the recovery process like after strabismus surgery?
  4. Are there any alternative treatments to strabismus surgery that I should consider?
  5. How long will it take for me to see improvements in my eye movements after strabismus surgery?
  6. Will I need to wear glasses or use any other visual aids after strabismus surgery?
  7. How often will I need follow-up appointments after strabismus surgery?
  8. Are there any lifestyle changes I should make before or after strabismus surgery to improve my recovery and results?
  9. How experienced are you in performing strabismus surgery, and what is your success rate with this procedure?
  10. Can you provide me with any patient testimonials or references from previous strabismus surgery patients?

Reference

Authors: Perrin Fievez F, Lions C, Bucci MP. Journal: Strabismus. 2018 Jun;26(2):96-104. doi: 10.1080/09273972.2018.1445761. Epub 2018 Mar 5. PMID: 29504830