Last Saturday, the first Paediatric Strabismus Surgery in the private sector in the Algarve was performed at HPA Gambelas — a milestone that represents a significant step forward in the region’s healthcare capacity. The procedure was carried out by Prof. Dr. Augusto Magalhães, a renowned paediatric ophthalmologist from Hospital CUF Porto, whose expertise reinforces the quality and safety of this intervention.
Strabismus is a relatively common condition in childhood, affecting around 3 to 4% of children. It is characterised by a loss of ocular alignment, with one or both eyes deviating inwards (convergent strabismus), outwards (divergent), or vertically. In many cases, deviation is the only visible sign. However, the consequences can be significant: the child’s brain tends to suppress the image from the deviated eye to avoid double vision (diplopia), which may lead to amblyopia (lazy eye) and loss of binocular vision, essential for depth perception. Treatment should begin as early as possible and may include optical correction, amblyopia therapy and, when necessary, surgery on the extraocular muscles.
The success of this first Paediatric Strabismus Surgery reflects our commitment to innovation, proximity and clinical excellence. In addition to expanding the range of specialised care available, this achievement contributes to the development of new surgical capabilities in the region, strengthening our ability to meet the needs of children and their families. Furthermore, we ensure comprehensive paediatric healthcare so that children have access to early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and better opportunities for healthy visual development.
Symptoms, causes and treatment options can be found at https://www.cuf.pt/saude-a-z/estrabismo-na-crianca
29, May 2026
