The goal of this surgery is to restore the eye muscles to a proper position. This will help the eyes move correctly.

Eye muscle surgery is most often done on children. However, adults who have similar eye problems may also have it done. Children will most often have general anesthesia for the procedure. They will be asleep and will not feel pain.

Depending on the problem, one or both eyes may need surgery.

After the anesthesia has taken effect, the eye surgeon makes a small surgical cut in the clear tissue covering the white of the eye. This tissue is called the conjunctiva. Then the surgeon will locate one or more of the eye muscles that needs surgery. Sometimes the surgery strengthens the muscle, and sometimes it weakens it.

To strengthen a muscle, a section of the muscle or tendon may be removed to make it shorter. This step in the surgery is called a resection.

To weaken a muscle, it is reattached to a point farther toward the back of the eye. This step is called a recession.

The surgery for adults is similar. In most cases, adults are awake, but are given medicine to numb the area and help them relax.

When the procedure is done on adults, an adjustable stitch is used on the weakened muscle so that minor changes can be made later that day or the next day. This technique often has a very good outcome.