Question
A 6-year-old girl has been undergoing treatment for pediatric strabismus without any improvement. Does every child with strabismus require surgery?
Answer
There are two types of pediatric strabismus. One type can be corrected with glasses, while the other requires surgery. The most common type encountered during examination is accommodative esotropia, and for other types of strabismus, surgery may be considered. The timing of the surgery varies depending on the condition, with children with congenital esotropia typically needing surgery before the age of two. For intermittent exotropia, the timing of surgery depends on the extent of binocular vision damage. Paralytic strabismus must be operated on immediately upon discovery to prevent potential effects on the child’s facial and spinal development.