What process is used to "weaken" an extraocular muscle?

Recession is the procedure that involves surgically repositioning an extraocular muscle further back from its original insertion point on the eye. By moving the muscle back, it is effectively "weakened" in terms of its ability to pull the eye in its respective direction. This adjustment helps in correcting muscle imbalances, particularly in conditions like strabismus, where alignment of the eyes is affected.

In contrast, resection involves cutting out a portion of the muscle to shorten it, which increases its strength rather than weakening it. Elevation refers to the movement of the eye upward, and transposition involves altering the position of the muscle while maintaining its function, which does not serve the purpose of weakening it. Hence, recession is the appropriate choice for the described process of weakening an extraocular muscle.