Background/aims A decrease in strabismus surgery in children has been previously documented in the UK. This study aims to examine whether the incidence of strabismus surgery in children is still decreasing and, if so, the possible reasons for this.

Methods Data on strabismus surgery from 2000 to 2010 in children in Scotland, England and Wales were obtained. Population statistics for the age group 0–14 years were obtained for England, Scotland and Wales. Annual incidence of strabismus surgery per 100 000 age-specific population was calculated. Data on the number of sight tests in children conducted by the hospital eye service from 1995 to 2004 in these regions were also obtained.

Results From 2000 to 2006, the annual incidence of paediatric strabismus operations decreased significantly in England (p=0.01) and Scotland (p=0.03), and showed a decreasing trend in Wales (p=0.06). Surgical rates, however, remained fairly constant from 2006 to 2010. The number of sight tests in children performed by the hospital eye service has remained fairly constant from 1995 to 2004 in England, Wales and Scotland.

Conclusions Rates of strabismus surgery in children, especially for esotropia, continued to decrease between 2000 and 2006, but may have stabilised from 2006 to 2010.