Effect of the Strabismus Surgery on Lid Fissure Alteration

Purpose: To investigate the postoperative surgical outcome of all patients undergoing strabismus surgery and its effect on palpebral fissure alteration. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 58 patients, who underwent strabismus surgery at Amir-al-Momenin Hospital, Rasht, Iran from March 2018 to 2019, were investigated for the changes in eye deviation and palpebral fissure height (PFH) 1 and 3 month(s) after surgery compared to the pre-surgical status. Also, their corneal light reflexes of the upper (margin to reflex distance [MRD1]) and lower eyelid (MRD2) were clinically evaluated. Results: Evaluation of 97 eyes of 58 patients (47 left and 50 right eyes; 73.8% women; mean age of 19.8±13.8 years) undergoing strabismus surgery showed significant changes in deviation, PFH, and MRD2 1 and 3 month(s) after surgery compared to the pre-surgical status with significant differences based on the type of surgery. Correction of deviation had a significant effect on PFH change (3 months after surgery compared to baseline) in medial and lateral rectus recession techniques (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed a significant effect of medial and lateral rectus recession on PFH, MRD1, and MRD2, which emphasizes the need to inform patients about the possibility of these changes after surgery and search for intraoperative strategies to reduce these changes.