How Early Is Early Surgery in the Management of Strabismus?

Abstract

A great many of our present-day ophthalmologists sincerely believe that they are performing early muscle surgery. This situation prevails despite the fact that the exact meaning of early strabismus surgery has not been clearly defined. In Wheeler's¹⁴review, early surgery varies from one to seven years of age depending on the individual interpretation of the surgeon. The subject is further confused by the fact that some physicians refer to the chronological age while others refer to the duration of the squint. Therefore in this paper: An attempt will be made to state exactly what is meant by early surgery in the management of strabismus. The goals of strabismus care will be discussed and defined. The results of 37 cases of congenital strabismus treated by early surgery will be presented to prove that this condition is functionally curable. Leahey's¹recommendations for early surgery are based on squint duration in