Abstract

Purpose: To compare the psychosocial status before and after successful strabismus surgery on Iranian strabismic patients Methods: One hundred twenty-four strabismic patients, older than 15 years were evaluated between 2009 and 2010. They were asked to complete a questionnaire about their psychosocial experiences, before and three months after successful strabismus surgery. Effects of strabismus on self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-assessment of intelligence, employment and interpersonal relationships were compared. Results: Fifty-six percent of patients had problems in adjusting to society, and 71 had developed a mannerism to camouflage their misalignment before surgery. The preoperative scores of self-esteem, self-confidence, and interpersonal relationship were 4.33±2.07, 4.23±2.53 and 6.06±2.33 which changed to 8.33±3.02, 7.29±2.89 and 6.72±3.17 after surgery, respectively (p<0.001 for all of values). More esotropic patients reported to be discriminated against compared to exotropic patients. Postoperatively, 79 of patients reported improvements in their ability to meet new people, and 82 in interpersonal relationships. Scores of self-confidence and self-esteem increased up to three and four units, respectively (p<0.001 for both values). Conclusion: Patients with strabismus have psychosocial problems and successful strabismus surgery improves their psychosocial status. © 2013 by the Iranian Society of Ophthalmology.