Macular Changes Following Strabismus Surgery Confirmed by the Use of Optical Coherence Tomography.

Dr. Nelson has no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein. doi:10.3928/01913913-20151208-01 Although temporary changes in corneal curvature following strabismus surgery have been described, there has been little known about macular changes occurring as well. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can detect even subclinical postoperative changes. In this issue, Mintz et al. have documented subclinical increases in the foveal and perifoveal macular thickness following strabismus surgery using OCT. The etiology of these OCT findings is currently unclear. Perhaps, as expressed by the authors, it might be due to changes in the mechanical forces or postoperative inflammation and changes in the blood–retinal barrier. The macular thickness changes following strabismus surgery were relatively small (5 to 6 microns) and subclinical. It is possible that these changes were influenced by OCT test–retest variability. Whether these OCT findings have any ultimate clinical implications remains unclear. Further studies with a longer follow-up will hopefully further clinical information.