Eye muscle repair is surgery to correct eye muscle problems that cause crossed eyes. The medical term for crossed eyes is strabismus.

The goal of this surgery is to allow the eye muscles to be in proper position and help the eyes move correctly.

Eye muscle repair surgery is usually done on children, but adults who have similar eye problems may also have it done. Children will usually receive general anesthesia for the procedure. They will be asleep and will not feel pain.

After the anesthesia has taken effect, an eye surgeon makes a small incision (cut) in the tissue between the eye and eyelid. This tissue is called the conjunctiva. Then the surgeon will locate 1 or more of the eye muscles that needs repairing. Sometimes the repair strengthens the muscle, and sometimes it weakens it. To strengthen these muscles, a section of the muscle or tendon may be removed. To weaken these muscles, a suture (stitch) may be made to change the position of the muscle.

The surgery for adults is similar. Most adults are usually awake and sleepy, but pain free. Numbing medicine injected around their eye will block pain. Often in adult surgery, an adjustable suture will be used so that minor corrections can be made later that day or the next day. This technique usually has a very good outcome.

Surgery may be recommended when strabismus does not improve with medicine or glasses.