Strabismus surgery is a surgical procedure used to correct strabismus, a condition in which the eyes do not align properly and point in different directions. This misalignment often results from a problem with the muscles that control eye movement, where one muscle might be too strong and the other too weak. The surgery is performed on the eye muscles to change their position or strength, which in turn helps the eyes to work together better. This procedure can be done on one or both eyes depending on the extent of the misalignment.

The operation is typically done under general anesthesia, making the patient unconscious and unable to feel pain. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, the surgeon makes a small incision in the tissue covering the eye, known as the conjunctiva, to access the eye muscles. The surgeon then either shortens the muscles to make them stronger, or repositions the muscle to alter its direction of pull. The conjunctiva is then sewn back together using dissolvable stitches. The entire process takes about 1-2 hours. Notably, successful strabismus surgery can improve the alignment and coordination of the eyes, helping to alleviate symptoms in patients, such as double vision. However, some patients may require further surgery or treatments to achieve the best possible eye alignment.