My optician said strabismus surgery isn t worth the risk, as it may do more harm than good. is this true? my eye wanders quite noticeably sometimes

No: Depends on a lot of factors -- see a strabismus surgeon (peds ophtho) before concluding that if your vision is good and it doesn't bother you that it much, it may be more cosmetic.

Dr Ali and another doctor agreed

Consider the source: I would consult with one or more ophthalmologists who has completed the extra surgical fellowship training & done if for years.With that level of training & experience you can expect the doc to have handled cases similar to yours & be up to date on new methods of treatment.Accepting random observations by someone not trained in the area could prevent you from achieving your goals.