There is a persistent myth that squint surgery is 'just for children'. It is not. Adults with squint — whether longstanding from childhood, or new-onset due to neurological, thyroid or trauma causes — can usually be corrected with modern strabismus surgery, often with excellent cosmetic and binocular results.
What is adult squint (strabismus)?
Squint, or strabismus, is a misalignment of the eyes — one eye may turn inwards (esotropia), outwards (exotropia), upwards (hypertropia) or downwards (hypotropia). It can be constant or intermittent.
In adults the impact is rarely 'just cosmetic'. Patients commonly describe double vision, eye strain, difficulty making eye contact in conversation or professional settings, and meaningful loss of self-confidence.
Causes of adult squint
- Decompensated childhood squint — a previously controlled squint becoming manifest in adulthood.
- Thyroid eye disease — restrictive strabismus from enlarged extraocular muscles.
- Cranial nerve palsies (third, fourth or sixth nerve) — often from microvascular ischaemia, trauma or, less commonly, intracranial pathology.
- Post-surgical or post-trauma — including following cataract or retinal surgery.
- Convergence insufficiency and other neuromuscular causes.
How private strabismus surgery works
Adult squint surgery is a precise, microsurgical operation on the extraocular muscles. The surgeon adjusts the tension and position of one or more of the six muscles attached to each eye to realign the visual axes.
It is performed as a day case, typically under general anaesthetic and usually takes 45–90 minutes per eye depending on the number of muscles addressed. Patients go home the same day with eye drops and clear written instructions.
Recovery and outcomes
- Eye redness for 2–6 weeks, fading gradually — the white of the eye returns to normal.
- Most patients return to office work within a week and to driving within 1–2 weeks once double vision (if any) settles.
- Final alignment outcome is assessed at around 8–12 weeks.
- The published success rate for satisfactory alignment in expert hands exceeds 80% from a single operation, with some patients benefitting from a planned secondary adjustment.
Choosing a strabismus surgeon
Strabismus is a true subspecialty — far fewer consultant ophthalmologists actively operate on adult squint than do, say, cataract. Look for fellowship-trained paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus subspecialists. Mr Mohyudin is a member of BIPOSA (the British and Irish Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association) and has personally performed more than 500 squint operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old for squint surgery?
No. Squint surgery is safe and effective at any adult age, including in patients in their 70s and 80s, provided they are medically fit for a short general anaesthetic. The myth that adult squint cannot be corrected is one of the most common reasons patients live unnecessarily with a treatable condition.
Will squint surgery cure my double vision?
In most cases, yes — but the answer depends on the cause and how long the squint has been present. A thorough orthoptic assessment with prism testing is required before surgery to predict the outcome accurately. In selected cases adjustable suture techniques are used to fine-tune the result.
How much does private adult squint surgery cost?
Typical UK self-pay pricing for private adult strabismus surgery ranges from approximately £4,500 to £7,500 per eye depending on the number of muscles operated on, anaesthesia and hospital. All major UK insurers cover medically indicated strabismus surgery.
Mr Mohamed Mohyudin
MBChB BSc MSc FRCOphth CCT — Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Spire Elland Hospital, Yorkshire. GMC 7039600.
View full credentials →