My Journey with Strabismus Surgery

What did you do as a student in Elementary school? Majority of the people reading couldn't distinctly recall a special teacher, let alone a life-changing event. I can. At the young age of 9, I had my first(and hopefully last) surgery—strabismus surgery, to be specific. And it changed my life. Here's the story:

As a child, I was born with Amblyopia, commonly known as Lazy eye syndrome. It's where the brain principally relies on one eye over the other, resulting in the other eye "drifting" inward or outward. In my case, my eye wandered outwards, and pre-surgical treatments were not fruitful. Following these attempts, we decided to go for a surgical attempt—strabismus surgery, or physical alignment of the eye to promote binocular vision.

And it was successful. I remember the tensed faces of my parents, the joy of eating my favorite foods the hours after. Yet, at that age, the recovery was difficult. My eyes constantly stung, and were red for a couple of weeks. Even so, the results was worth it. For once, I didn't look like the "odd one out" in every photo, just a normal kid. My vision also drastically improved, allowing me to participate and compete in sports and other activities.

For any parent reconsidering the surgery for their child, I would definitely reconsider your choice. If pre-surgical interventions are effective, then I would recommend that route, but if not, then this surgery is a exceptional alternative. It may seem like your child cannot handle it, and they are too young for it. Still, trust your doctor and my story. Children are more resilient than we give them credit forand what may seem overwhelming in the moment can lead to lasting confidence and a better quality of life.