Purpose: To determine the duration of postoperative conjunctival injection following strabismus surgery and to assess how this is affected by previous extraocular muscle surgery. This would improve preoperative counseling of strabismus patients.
Methods: Subjective evaluation of conjunctival redness based on patient questionnaire response.
Results: Fifty-three patients returned completed questionnaires. A total of 93 muscles were operated on. Of these, 46 had not undergone previous operations; 47 had. Previously unoperated eyes remained red for a median duration of 9.5 weeks; reoperated eyes remained red for a median of 11 weeks. Of the 93 muscles, 50 were sutured with adjustable sutures. These remained red for a median duration of 11 weeks. Muscles tied with nonadjustable sutures remained red for a median of 10 weeks.
Conclusions: In both previously unoperated and reoperated eyes, conjunctival redness resolved in approximately 10 weeks; adjustable sutures did not alter the duration of redness significantly.