Other Eye Problems Support Group

I had a hernia surgery when I was in the fourth grade, about 9-10 years old. I was out of school for a couple days, b/c I couldn't walk and I shouldn't have anyways. My parenst and brothers were worried about me going into surgery, and were worried about if everything would be fine and if I would make it through ok. Surgery can be scary, especially when its about your vison. I am not farmiliar with the disease, but you said it includes possibly going blind.

If there is a good garentee of blindness, I would consider the surgery. There are so many risks even when you are on something like birt control b/c blood clots can form and kill you. Find out teh success rate of the surgery, and ask the doctor or suregon himself about your child's vison after the surgery, and if he'll have to keep going for mor for the rest of his life fighting this. I know it sounds hard, but I recommend the surgery. You're child only has one set of eyes that have to last him for the rest of his life. I bet you have a brave son who is trying to deal with the strabismus. And don't forget that if you do decide to go for the surgery, remember that the dr.'s do care about their patients, and go out of their way to ensure that they will lead a happy healthy life afterward. It's scary as a confused parent, but I know that my parents had me go through with the surgery, and I don't recall a single problem with hernia ever since. Good luck in your research and I wish you and your son the best when you make the decison.

Hi, I'm not a parent but I am very experienced with eye surgeries! I had 3 for strabismus and I would recommend surgery. The recovery time is pretty quick and most people do not even notice anything now wrong with my eyes. I think the positives of surgery outweigh the risks, but if you do decide to get surgery try to research your dr. before just to make sure! The sooner the better though, good luck!

I have strabismus myself. I'm currently 27 and it was found when I was about 21 years old. I had problems for years but no one picked up on what it really was. I never had surgery, I had vision therapy and am glad I went that route, personally. It was less invasive and it works. I have to 'brush up' once in awhile so I do the exercises when I notice my vision isn't the way it should be. This is obviously a personal choice, one to be thoroughly discussed with the doctor/surgeon seeing your son. I wish you all the best!-mel

my three year old son is going to have surgery on 6/12 for his strabismus.his eyes drift outward when he looks in the distance (he is nearsighted and has astigmatism).he has been wearing glasses for two years but the strabismus got worse. I quess different things can cause the the eyes to drift so that would also help determine the best treatment.

my daughter had the surgery twice..i wouldnt change anything about it..

if its not corrected.,, your child will be made fun of their whole life...people are cruel..

I am 20 and I have had surgery seven times in regards to strabismus. PLEASE PLEASE if there is any opportunity to use patching/visual therapy BEFORE you arrange for surgery - do so!

Apparently visual therapy has been gaining popularity and can be amazingly effective. My sister also had strabismus - a much more milder form than myself, but my parents patched her and she no longer has anything noticeably wrong, only when she is tired/sick and I am probably the only one who notices because I've lived with this for so long. It sounds as though it was a positive experience for spidergoo as well.

I am urging you to look into these routes as opposed to surgery because, although strabismus surgery is supposed to be easy, that was not the case for myself. I've done extensive research and learned that if the first surgery is done correctly, both eyes will work together (binocular vision) and be 'normal' with no problems. I do not know what went wrong with my first surgery, but the doctor tried to correct the situation further with the second surgery. During this surgery something happened -- but the surgery went extremely wrong. My parents tried to uncover what went wrong, tried to uncover information, but nobody ever told them or even really hinted towards what may have gone wrong other than the doctor was not adequate and I should not have been undergoing surgery from her.

I had 4 operations by the time I was four, and then 3 when I was a teenager. My eye will never be perfect or look completely normal, I have very bad double vision, I do not have depth perception or binocular vision. Although my appearance is at an incredibly much better place than it was, my eyelid does still droop (ptosis) and I have a bad scar in my eye which causes me pain every day. It burns and reddens. I am actually going tomorrow to see a specialist in regards to the scar/eyelid.

This is an ongoing battle for me and has triggered many emotional problems/difficulties in my life. It has been more stunting than I can even begin to explain, physically and emotionally, in regards to a social life, work life and my career aspirations.

I am not saying to rule out surgery but I am urging you to research/delve into visual therapy, and perhaps patching before you do decide to embark upon surgery. I would also urge you to get second/third opinions if possible. If I had not have gone to the doctor I did I would not be suffering with this now. Please contact me if you need to. Good luck and best wishes.