Surgical Treatment of Strabism in the Czech Republic in 1998 and 1999

Overview

Strabism affects 5 - 7 % of the western child population. Some of these patients require surgical treatment. A survey using questionnaries focused on the type of surgical treatment of strabism was implemented in the Czech Republic in 1998 and 1999. The questionnarie was sent to all departments which provide surgical treatment of strabism. The response rate was 100 %.In 1998 in the Czech Republic in 54 departments 3167 operations of strabism were performed. In 1999 the number of operations declined to 2744 and also the number of departments engaged in these operations was smaller (49 departments). 75% of the operated subjects were children under 15 years. The most frequent primary strabosurgical procedure was modification of the strength of the horizontal muscles. This procedure was performed in 82% operations. The index of reoperations/repeated operations was 9.1%. The mean age of the child patients during primary surgery of strabism was 4.1 years, during reoperation 7.2 years. The mean period of hospitalization in primary operations of strabism was 3.9 days. Two surgical centres implemented more than 20 operations per month. A surgical microscope was used as a matter of routine only by some departments operating less than five patients with strabism per month.

Key words:
surgery of strabism, national survey, questionnaire survey