Exotropia Gallery Patient 171446

Al’s Story

Al had exotropia, a form of strabismus in which the eyes drift outward. He had lived with his eye turn for most of his life.

Many adults with strabismus assume that nothing can be done. Some were told years ago that they were "too old." Others simply learned to live with the condition and stopped asking about it. Al was genuinely surprised to learn that strabismus surgery was still an option.

This is unfortunate because there is an extensive medical literature demonstrating that strabismus affects adults in many ways. Beyond the obvious effect on appearance, adults with strabismus frequently report difficulty with eye contact, reduced self-confidence, challenges in social interactions, limitations in employment opportunities, reading discomfort, and reduced quality of life. For many patients, the impact is far greater than most people realize.

After a careful evaluation and discussion of the available options, Al decided to proceed with eye muscle surgery.

The Procedure

Strabismus surgery is performed on the muscles attached to the outside of the eye. The eye itself is never removed, and the surgery does not involve operating inside the eye.

The technical aspects of surgery are important, but the most important step is understanding exactly why the eyes are misaligned and selecting the procedure most likely to address that specific problem.

Al's surgery was performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing him to return home the same day.

The Result

The photographs demonstrate a significant improvement in Al's eye alignment following surgery.

For Al, the result was about much more than a photograph. Like many adults with longstanding strabismus, he had spent years adapting to the condition and accepting it as something that simply could not be changed. Discovering that meaningful improvement was actually possible came as a pleasant surprise.

One of the most rewarding parts of adult strabismus surgery is watching patients look at themselves differently. It is often not just their eye position that changes. Their confidence, comfort, and willingness to engage with others frequently change as well.

No operation can guarantee perfect alignment forever, and some patients may eventually choose additional treatment in the future. Nevertheless, meaningful improvement is usually achievable, even after decades of living with strabismus.

The Lesson

Many adults believe that strabismus surgery is only for children.

That is simply not true.

Adults with strabismus often benefit from treatment, even when the eye turn has been present for many years. Modern strabismus surgery can improve appearance, visual comfort, binocular function, confidence, and quality of life.

If you have spent years thinking that nothing can be done about your eye alignment, it may be worth asking again. You may be pleasantly surprised. The hardest part for many adults is not the surgery. It is realizing that they still have options.