Previous studies have shown that strabismus (sometimes referred to as a "squint") is associated with a higher risk of injury in children; 30% of strabismic children have had documented injuries.
Recently published research in the American Journal of Ophthalmology (see below) has teased this apart into those who have had surgery versus those who have not.
It found better safety for children and adolescents who did have strabismus surgery.
This large retrospective study of over 340,000 children and adolescents found that proceeding with strabismus surgery appears to significantly lower (by 15%) the risk of significant injury (fractures, musculoskeletal injuries, head injuries) in the following four years.
This is likely to relate to gains in their gross motor development, postural stability, and gait safety.
This is an important issue to bear in mind when considering surgery for your child.
American Journal of Ophthalmology; Strabismus Surgery Decreases the Risk of Injuries in Pediatric Patients in the OptumLabs Data Warehouse;
Am J Ophthalmol 2021 Jul 17;[EPub Ahead of Print], SL Pineles, MX Repka, F Yu, FG Velez, C Perez, D Sim, AL Coleman
