In Bakersfield, I would only take my kiddos to Dr. Gregory Stainer.  He is amazing!!  I was one of his first patients (way long ago) that he performed the adjustable suture procedure on.  I was born with strabismus and had one eye surgery at 10 years old - but, needed another at the age of 12 to correct my wandering eyes.  He did the second surgery and wowed many doctors and nurses with his expertise...and I have to say, he is even better now that the technology is better.  He corrected my oldest son's strabismus and has him doing very well.  The key to developing the brain/eye coordination (3-D vision) is correcting the vision at a very early age, like before the age of 4 or 5.....Colby's first surgery was at 8 months, the second one was a year later.  We faithfully used eye patches and they helped some, but, the surgery is what did the job.  My youngest also had to have his tear duct "roto rootered" as he called it, for a clogged tear duct.  Caden was in and out, in less than 20 minutes.  No IV at all, only a mild anesthetic and he was ready to go.  The surgery center is great and Dr. Stainer makes sure to schedule the youngest patients first....rough on parents, but you are home fast and the kids are usually asleep when they go into the room with the nurse. 

Dr. Stainer is available at both his offices, China Grade Loop and Planz Rd.  (on different days of course)  He also has another doctor, Dr. Marsh, who is good with kids and those who need contacts or glasses.  But, Dr. Stainer is the only eye doctor I would trust for surgery.  Feel free to give your friend my email and let them know I'm happy to answer any questions about the surgery or Dr. Stainer.  It's a scary thought to trust your child to someone for surgery - under a general anesthetic, especially at a young age.  However, it is SO worth it to have the depth perception and know that they will have a "normal visual" life!  Since I was so much older when my surgery was done, I don't have depth perception.  Colby will go back for his yearly check up and glasses assessment, and I'll have the verdict on the total depth perception then, last year, he was not at 100% that we could determine anyway....       

Also, amblyopia can be a result of the strabismus....it's technically when the brain "shuts down input" from one eye and favors the other eye.  My older brother developed lazy eye since the theory (back then) was surgery as the last result, try to "strengthen the muscles" with eye exercises.  Early detection, a competent eye doctor and surgery is the best way to keep the brain and eyes functioning together and in unison. 

Did I mention that Dr. Stainer is an M.D. as well?