Duration of conjunctival redness following adult strabismus surgery

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 eves 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. (J AAPOS 2009;13:583-586)