EYE SURGERY
Squint Surgery in Nairobi
A squint — medically known as strabismus — is a condition where the eyes do not point in the same direction. One eye may turn inward, outward, upward or downward while the other eye looks straight ahead. Squints affect both children and adults, causing double vision, poor depth perception, eye strain and significant self-consciousness about appearance.
Squint surgery at Royal Eye & Ear Hospital precisely repositions the muscles around the eye to realign the eyes — restoring normal eye coordination, improving visual function, and giving patients renewed confidence in their appearance. It is one of the most transformative procedures we perform.
How It Works
The four steps of squint surgery:
- 1. Access — the surgeon makes a small opening in the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white of the eye) to reach the eye muscles underneath. The inner structures of the eye are not touched.
- 2. Muscle adjustment — depending on the type of squint, the surgeon either shortens (resection) or repositions (recession) the relevant eye muscles to correct the misalignment.
- 3. Reattachment — the muscles are reattached at their new position using dissolvable sutures that the body absorbs naturally over 4–6 weeks.
- 4. Closure — the conjunctiva is closed and antibiotic eye drops are applied. No permanent stitches remain.
Strabismus surgery is a day procedure that usually takes 30–45 minutes per eye.</cite> Children are treated under general anaesthesia; adults may be treated under local anaesthesia or light sedation.
Why Choose Royal Eye & Ear Hospital for Cataract Surgery?
Not all cataract surgeries are equal. The skill of your surgeon, the quality of the lens, and the care you receive after surgery all determine your outcome.
- 🏥 Specialist Eye & Ear Focus We are a dedicated eye and ear hospital — not a general clinic. Every surgeon, every nurse, and every piece of equipment here exists solely to serve your eye health.
- 👁️ Experienced Cataract Surgeons Our ophthalmologists have performed hundreds of successful SICS procedures and are trained in the latest manual cataract techniques used across East Africa and internationally.
- 📍 Conveniently Located in Nairobi Based on 3rd Parklands Avenue, we serve patients from Westlands, Parklands, Gigiri, Muthaiga, and across the greater Nairobi region.
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For Both Children and Adults. There is no absolute age limit for strabismus surgery, successful outcomes are possible from infancy through advanced age. We treat patients of all ages with personalised care appropriate to their developmental stage and visual needs. - 🔬 Quality IOL Options We offer a range of intraocular lens options to suit your vision needs and budget, including standard monofocal lenses and premium options.
Benefits of Squint Surgery
Corrects Eye Alignment
Squint surgery directly repositions the eye muscles to bring both eyes into correct alignment, the primary goal and most immediate benefit of the procedure.
Improved Depth Perception
Strabismus surgery can improve the way your eyes work together to create your 3D vision, especially for children. Properly aligned eyes work together as a team, restoring binocular vision and depth perception.
Reduces Double Vision
Many adults with squint experience debilitating double vision. Squint surgery realigns the eyes so both visual images are fused correctly, eliminating or significantly reducing double vision.
Prevents Amblyopia in Children
In young children, straightening the eyes can improve visual development and help prevent or improve amblyopia, the condition where the brain suppresses the image from a misaligned eye, leading to permanent reduced vision if untreated.
Boosts Confidence
Many patients report increased confidence and satisfaction with their appearance after surgery. The psychological impact of correcting a visible squint, particularly in children, can be profound and life-changing.
Suitable for All Ages
Adult strabismus surgery has 80–85% success rates with a single procedure and provides both functional and psychological benefits. It is never too late to seek treatment for a squint.
What to Expect After Squint Surgery
Timeline:
Day 1 — Immediately after surgery Your eye will be red and feel sore or scratchy — this is completely normal and expected. <cite index=”24-1″>Eye soreness and scratchiness usually lasts 1 to 2 days after surgery.</cite> Vision may be blurred initially. You are discharged the same day with antibiotic and steroid eye drops.
Days 1–3 — First few days Redness, mild swelling and discomfort are normal and gradually improve. Use all prescribed eye drops as directed. <cite index=”24-1″>Most children go back to their normal daily activities the day after surgery.</cite> Adults may want 3–5 days of rest.
Week 1–2 — Recovery period Vision stabilises and eye redness fades. <cite index=”26-1″>Most people miss 3–10 days of work or school depending on how they feel.</cite> Attend your follow-up appointment to confirm alignment is on target. Note that <cite index=”26-1″>about 30% of older children and adults experience double vision after surgery, which typically passes within about 4 weeks.</cite>
Weeks 4–8 — Final alignment <cite index=”24-1″>The final position of the eyes doesn’t occur for 6 to 8 weeks.</cite> The dissolving stitches are fully absorbed during this period. A final assessment confirms the outcome and determines whether any further treatment is needed.
Recovery Do's and Dont's:
✅ Use all prescribed eye drops on schedule
✅ Attend all follow-up appointments
✅ Rest your eyes from screens for the first few days
✅ Wear sunglasses outdoors to protect the healing eye
❌ Don’t rub or press on your eye
❌ Don’t swim or use hot tubs for at least 2 weeks
❌ Don’t drive until your surgeon confirms it is safe
❌ Don’t do heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 1–2 weeks
RESULTS
What Results Can You Expect?
1
High Success Rate
Adult strabismus surgery has 80–85% success rates with a single procedure. For children treated early, outcomes are even more favourable, with the additional benefit of improved visual development.
2
Immediate Improvement
Improvement is often immediate, but full stabilisation may take a few weeks. Most patients notice their eyes are significantly better aligned from the day of surgery itself.
3
Functional & Cosmetic Benefits
Squint surgery delivers both functional benefits (improved binocular vision, elimination of double vision, better depth perception) and cosmetic benefits (aligned, natural-looking eyes), improving quality of life on multiple levels.
4
Children Benefit Most
While early treatment before age 7–8 is ideal for developing normal binocular vision, it is never truly too late for squint surgery. Children treated early achieve the best visual outcomes, while adults primarily benefit from alignment correction and relief from visual discomfort.
Risks & Considerations of Squint Surgery⚠️
Squint surgery is a safe and well-established procedure. At Royal Eye & Ear Hospital, our surgeons take every precaution to minimise risks — and serious complications are rare.
1
Under or Over Correction
The most common outcome concern — the eyes may not align perfectly after the first procedure. Some patients require a second surgery to fine-tune the result. This risk is reduced by careful pre-operative measurement and, for adults, the use of adjustable sutures.
2
Double Vision (Temporary)
About 30% of older children and adults experience double vision after surgery, which typically passes within about 4 weeks. In rare cases it may persist longer and require additional management.
3
Infection
A small risk with any eye surgery. Prescribed antibiotic eye drops significantly reduce this risk. Avoid swimming and dirty water environments for at least 2 weeks after surgery.
Patient outcome note: Your surgeon will discuss all potential risks personally during your pre-operative consultation and answer every question before proceeding. Most patients and families find that the functional and psychological benefits of squint correction far outweigh the surgical risks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Squint Surgery
Early treatment gives the best visual outcomes for children. For children with congenital strabismus, surgery may be recommended as early as 6–12 months to promote binocular vision development. Your surgeon will advise the optimal timing based on your child’s specific type of squint and visual development.
No. Children are treated under general anaesthesia and are asleep throughout. Adults may have local anaesthesia or light sedation and feel comfortable during the procedure. Some soreness, scratchiness and redness is normal after surgery and resolves within a few days.
Strabismus surgery is a day procedure that usually takes 30–45 minutes per eye. You will spend a few hours at Royal Eye & Ear Hospital on the day of surgery for preparation, the procedure itself, and a brief recovery observation period before discharge.
Strabismus surgery realigns your eyes but will not correct refractive errors that cause blurry vision. Your glasses prescription probably won’t change after surgery. If you or your child require glasses for refractive errors, these will still be needed after surgery.
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