Newswise — A new study in the October issue of the Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) suggests that the benefits of surgically corrected adult strabismus include not only improved health and vision, but also improved self-image, better job performance and promotions, and more hope for the future. "The Management of Strabismus " the Effects on Disability" is the third paper in a multi-center study on the management of strabismus in adults and reports the results of a survey completed by patients who underwent the corrective procedure. The 101 patients who filled out the six-question survey reported large differences between before-surgery and after-surgery ratings of the severity of problems associated with their strabismus
Strabismus (pronounced struh-BIZ-mus) is a condition in which the eyeballs are not aligned properly and point in different directions. Strabismus is a common condition among children, with about 4 percent of all children in the United States diagnosed with strabismus. When it occurs in adults, it's called adult strabismus. Nearly four in every 100 adults have adult strabismus. Most adults with the condition have had it since childhood. But strabismus can occur in adulthood because of medical conditions, including diabetes, thyroid disease and head trauma, and can occasionally occur after cataract or retinal surgery.
"That adult strabismus is deemed a cosmetic issue is a misperception," said George R. Beauchamp, MD, from the Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Academy member. "It is a condition that is frequently overlooked, but can be corrected at all ages, offering the possibility of a better, brighter, happier life."
Because adult strabismus is frequently dismissed as cosmetic, older patients rarely seek treatment as they are encouraged to "just deal with it." Patients as old as 90 years completed the study's six survey questions and ranked on a scale of one to 10 how strabismus affected their lives before and after surgery in such categories as social interaction (maintaining eye contact., social confusion), concerns about the future (blindness, inability to work or read), job-related concerns (not being hired, retained and/or promoted).
In all six areas, patients indicated a significant improvement after their surgery.
"An elderly patient came to me after his surgery, looked me straight in the eye and thanked me for changing his life,"
"'The eyes are the scouts for the heart,'" added Dr. Beauchamp, quoting a poem from the middle ages.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons " Eye M.D.s " with more than 27,000 members. For more information about eye health care or to find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at http://www.aao.org.
Note to editors: please contact the Academy's media relations staff for a copy of the Effects on Disabilities paper, or to schedule an interview with a patient.
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