title: Instructions to Patients and Families Following   Strabismus Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze postoperative instructions provided to patients and families after strabismus surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In April 2012, a 12-question electronic survey was sent to all members of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) regarding their instructions to patients undergoing strabismus surgery. The questions specifically addressed patients’ daily activities, such as their resumption of school and work, sports, swimming, normal showering and bathing, and contact lens use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred two responses were completed; 96% were from pediatric ophthalmologists regularly performing strabismus surgery. Participation was greater by North American members (86%) and respondents with more than 10 years of experience (75%). Fifty percent of the respondents advised patients to resume normal showering and bathing 24 hours after surgery. Conversely, respondents recommended that children wait 3 to 4 days before resuming schoolwork (52%) and at least 2 weeks before playing in a sandbox (47%). Furthermore, respondents indicated that patients should refrain from participating in sports-related activities for at least 1 week (43%) and should not go swimming for at least 2 weeks (56%). Finally, 47% advised their patients not to wear contact lenses for 2 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the responses indicated a high regard among AAPOS members for promoting normal healing and prevention of infection and other postoperative complications; however, certain trends, such as the recommendation regarding normal showering, may intimate a lack of further infection prevention.
authors.forename: Gad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dotan
authors.forename: Hanya M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Leonard B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D063886:Patient Discharge Summaries / Q000592:standards*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires