Patient perspectives on their outcomes from strabismus surgery undertaken for psychosocial reasons

Strabismus surgery undertaken for psychosocial reasons aims to align the eyes in a straighter position, reduce the psychosocial symptoms experienced and improve health related quality of life (HRQoL). Greater evidence of the postoperative outcomes in adults undergoing strabismus surgery for psychosocial reasons is required to inform funding and commissioning decisions about strabismus surgery.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults who had previously undergone strabismus surgery for psychosocial reasons to explore their perceptions of their postoperative outcomes. Maximum variation sampling was used to recruit males and females, younger and older participants. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis following the principles of grounded theory.

Thirteen adults were recruited and interviewed, mean 12.2 months postoperatively (range 4.5–20 months). Participants reported a range of improvements in vision, task performance, physical symptoms and confidence and emotions. Some worsening of physical symptoms was reported.

Despite undergoing strabismus surgery for psychosocial reasons, a range of improvements in vision, task performance and physical symptoms were reported by adult patients postoperatively, in addition to the expected improvements in confidence and emotions.