The effect of strabismus surgery on quality of life in children and adolescents

The Effect of Strabismus Surgery on Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents Strabismus, amblyopia, impaired depth perception, and diplopia can be accompanied by social stigmatization, psychosocial problems, and reduced self-esteem. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of strabismus treatment is improving the patient's quality of life. In this study, our aim is to evaluate whether there is a change in the perception of quality of life before and after surgical correction in children and adolescents scheduled for strabismus surgery. Patients aged 8-18 years, who were scheduled for surgery due to strabismus, were evaluated prospectively. Demographic information, the etiology of deviation, classification-degree, abnormal head posture, other accompanying examination findings, and the surgical procedures applied were recorded. The Turkish version of the KIDSCREEN-52 quality of life scale, which has been validated, was administered to the patients before the surgical decision was explained and at least 3 months after the surgery, evaluating sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and social relationships. Fourteen (43.8%) of the 32 participants were male. The average age was 11.5 years. Exotropia was present in 13 (40.6%) cases and was identified as the most common type of strabismus. When examining the etiology of the cases, 21 (65.6%) had congenital, and 11 (34.4%) had paralytic strabismus, with deviation in both eyes detected in 8 (25%) cases. When comparing the preoperative and postoperative KIDSCREEN-52 scale results, no statistically significant differences were found in the physical well-being, general mood, autonomy, family home relationships, financial resources, social relationships-friends, and school question groups (p>0.05); however, statistically significant differences were found in the psychological well-being, self-perception, and bullying social acceptance question groups (p<0.05). Similar results were obtained in subgroup analyses according to the etiology, type, and degree of deviation. Surgical correction of strabismus shows a positive effect on the perception of quality of life, in addition to functional improvement. Considering that patients of this age can easily change their self-awareness and face challenges in asserting themselves in social status, including bullying, the importance of surgical intervention becomes even more evident. Keywords: KIDSCREEN-52, strabismus, strabismus surgery, life quality.