Strabismus surgery on the elderly and the effects on disability

Abstract

It is widely believed that strabismus surgery in elderly adults has low value and is of limited benefit. In this study, consecutive patients older than 65 years of age who had undergone strabismus surgery were asked to complete a telephone questionnaire rating their before-surgery and after-surgery severity of various problems, including specific health, daily functioning, social interactions, concerns about the future, self-image, and job-related problems. Of the 56 patients identified, 37 completed the survey. Problem ratings improved significantly on all 5 of 6 items after surgery, with specific health and daily tasks yielding the greatest improvement. For all items, the number of patients who indicated an improvement was greater than the number of patients who indicated no change or deterioration with surgery. This study further details the benefits of strabismus surgery in the elderly.