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Ophthalmology · UK

Squint correction - the technique behind the alignment.

The right muscle, the right dose, on the right eye. Recess-resect calculations, adjustable sutures for adults, and a plan for what happens if the angle is not perfect at six weeks.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private squint correction surgery costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner UK units.

In short

£4,500–£7,500, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
Two-muscle squint surgery (one eye) £4,500–£7,500
Bilateral squint surgery £5,500–£9,000
Adjustable-suture squint surgery £5,500–£9,500
Revision squint surgery £6,000–£10,000
Botulinum toxin for squint £950–£1,800
Orthoptic assessment £180–£320
Strabismus consultant clinic £280–£450
Prism prescription and glasses check £120–£220

Prices vary by consultant, by the number of muscles operated on, and by whether adjustable sutures are used. Bilateral cases and revisions sit at the top of the range.

The problem

A calculation, a hook, and a stitch - done to the millimetre.

Squint surgery is a millimetric operation. The size of the recession or resection is calculated from your specific angle at specific gazes - not from a table.

  • Angle at multiple gazes

    Near, distance, up, down and lateral - the pattern decides which muscles need moving and by how much.

  • Adjustable sutures in adults

    A tied-off but reachable knot lets the surgeon fine-tune alignment awake the next day - a small operation of its own.

  • Botulinum toxin as an adjunct

    For some paralytic and small-angle squints, targeted toxin injection changes the plan or replaces surgery entirely.

When it helps

When squint correction surgery is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means urgent review rather than a routine booking.

  • Congenital esotropia

    Constant convergent squint from infancy - the classic paediatric case.

  • Accommodative esotropia not fully corrected

    A squint controlled with glasses but with residual angle - surgery on the residual.

  • Intermittent exotropia

    A divergent squint that appears with fatigue, distance viewing or daydreaming - often good candidates for surgery.

  • Sixth-nerve palsy

    Lateral rectus palsy with double vision - recession-resection or transposition procedures.

  • Thyroid eye disease

    Restrictive squint from muscle enlargement in Graves’ - surgery once stable.

  • Adult cosmetic squint

    A childhood squint that was left alone - often correctable with a single operation.

  • Post-cataract or post-retinal-detachment squint

    Diplopia after major eye surgery - a subset benefits from targeted strabismus surgery.

  • Red flag: sudden onset with headache

    A new squint with headache, vomiting or neurological signs is an urgent neurology and imaging problem, not an outpatient booking.

Procedure options

Recess, resect, adjust, or inject.

The main technical options - each with a specific set of indications and a specific dosing calculation.

  • Recession

    Moving a muscle backward on the globe to weaken it. Millimetric calculations from the measured angle.

  • Resection

    Shortening a muscle to strengthen it. Usually paired with a recession on the antagonist.

  • Adjustable sutures

    A slipknot lets the alignment be fine-tuned the next morning while the patient is awake. Standard adult practice in trained hands.

  • Faden (posterior fixation)

    Suturing a muscle to the sclera further back - used for gaze-incomitant squints.

  • Transposition procedures

    For paralytic squints - the vertical recti are moved to take over the action of a paralysed lateral rectus.

  • Oblique muscle surgery

    For A- and V-patterns and dissociated vertical deviation.

  • Botulinum toxin

    Injected into a specific muscle under EMG guidance - an alternative to a small-angle operation, or a preparatory step in paralytic squint.

  • Two-stage plans

    A large angle is sometimes divided over two operations - better outcomes than a single overzealous surgery.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

A well-established procedure in the right hands. The honest conversation is about recovery and expectations.

  • GA in a proper theatre

    General anaesthetic is standard for children and most adults. Adult patients with adjustable sutures are woken briefly the next morning.

  • Overcorrection and undercorrection

    The main risk is not perfect alignment first time. Around 10–20 percent of cases need a second smaller operation.

  • Diplopia

    Adults may see double for days to weeks as the brain adapts. Long-term double vision is uncommon with careful planning.

  • Bleeding and infection

    Both uncommon. Antibiotic-steroid drops for 3–4 weeks.

  • Scleral perforation

    A very rare surgical complication - under 1 percent - recognised and managed in theatre.

  • Slipped or lost muscle

    A rare complication with a specific management. This is why squint surgery belongs with an experienced surgeon.

  • Pain and grittiness

    Common for a few days. Simple analgesia and drops are enough for most.

  • Return to normal life

    Home the same day. Off school or work for a week. Swimming after 4 weeks.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Worsening pain, vision loss, sticky discharge or a fever needs same-day contact - never wait for the routine review.

Reading your notes

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever approach was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK strabismus surgeon reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and approach

    Why the squint operation was done, which side, and what approach was chosen.

  2. 02 Technique

    What was done

    The technique in plain terms - incisions, structures addressed, implants or fixation used.

  3. 03 Findings

    Findings and complications

    What was seen and whether anything unexpected happened during the procedure.

  4. 04 Impression

    Plan, restrictions and follow-up

    Read this first: recovery restrictions, rehab timeline, and when we look at you again.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Usually covered when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about the technique.

Quick answers on cost, recovery and what happens if it does not work.

  • How is squint correction different from paediatric squint surgery?

    On our site, squint correction surgery focuses on the surgical technique in adults and older children; squint surgery gives the wider decision-making view including when not to operate. Both are performed by the same consultants.

  • Will my alignment be perfect first time?

    Around 75–85 percent of patients are cosmetically well-aligned at three months. Around 15–25 percent need a smaller second operation. Adjustable sutures push the first-time rate up in cooperative adults.

  • Do I need to wear glasses after surgery?

    If glasses control part of the squint (accommodative component), you will keep wearing them. Surgery corrects the residual angle. In non-accommodative squints, glasses use depends on your refraction.

  • How much does private squint surgery cost in the UK?

    Roughly £4,500–£7,500 for two-muscle single-eye surgery, £5,500–£9,000 for bilateral, £5,500–£9,500 with adjustable sutures, and £6,000–£10,000 for revision. Botulinum toxin as an alternative is £950–£1,800.

  • How long is recovery?

    Home the same day. A red eye for a fortnight. School or desk work in a week. Swimming from four weeks. Full contact sport from four weeks.

  • Can I have this on the NHS?

    Yes, functionally motivated squint surgery is offered. Cosmetic-only requests are variable by region and often not funded for adults. Waiting lists run 6–18 months in most areas.

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