I have noticed over the years that when I move my head slowly to the left or right while focusing both eyes on a stationary object from any distance, I begin to see two instances of that object and that it is more pronounced and to a greater degree when I turn my head to the left than when I turn my head to the right. If I look straight on at the stationary object or even turn my head slightly (again, while maintaining my focus on it), I only see a single instance of it.
Perhaps this is normal and I just never noticed it. I do have a condition called "lazy eye" in which my left eye just sort of drifts to the left but I'm not sure if this is the cause.
Also, I see fuzzy, overlapping images when I use my left eye while keeping my right one closed.
Could anyone here try this and see if you get the same results? (I'm talking about moving your head slowly to the left or right while focusing both eyes on a stationary object from any distance and seeing if you begin to see two instances of that object). It would be very reassuring to me to know that I am not alone and that this is normal. I've been obsessing over this for almost two years now.
Thank you kindly for the reply. I believe you are correct in your suggestion that my eye problems may be caused by exotropia. I was actually diagnosed with amblyopia as a child and after a lengthy (and I believe unsuccessful) surgery, I had to wear eye patches for a long time. I did a little research just now and have learned that amblyopia can progress to convergence insufficiency and my symptoms match up prefectly (I have EVERY one of these)...
* eyestrain
* headaches
* inability to concentrate
* short attention span
* frequent loss of place
* squinting, rubbing, closing or covering an eye
* blurry vision
* sleepiness
* trouble remembering what was read
* words move, jump, swim or appear to float on the page
* problems with motion sickness and/or vertigo
* double vision (in my case, only when I do what I described earlier)
I also forgot to mention that I spend a great deal of time at the computer (and have for 12 years) and that sometimes the letters on the keyboard appear to be blurred, overlapping or scrambled. However, I can quickly close my left eye (by amblyopic one) when this happens and the problem goes away.
I would be keenly interested to speak with anyone else who shares problems similar to mine. I really don't want to see this thread wither on the vine because I need to talk to other people who have these same symptoms and this forum is about all there is out there.
LT, AAPOS used to have a wonderful forum devoted to strabismus, but it ceased when their site was redone. It was difficult to get volunteer doctors to reply to posts. Anyway, you might still be able to find archived posts by doing a web search that includes AAPOS.
I'm a little confused about your different eye problems. Your eye drifts out (exotropia) but you say amblyopia can lead to convergence insufficiency. I'm not an expert on these things, but I think c.i. has the opposite effect in that the eyes turn inward. I could be wrong. Amblyopia is the result of different images from each eye going to the brain. If you had an eye that drifted outward, and had surgery for it, it was this exotropia that caused the amblyopia.
I have amblyopia. I never got it corrected as a child. Of the symptoms you listed, these are the ones I have:
* eyestrain
* headaches
* frequent loss of place
* squinting, rubbing, closing an eye (only at night)
* blurry vision
* sleepiness (don't know if it caused by my eye problem tho)
* trouble remembering what was read (occassionally, but not often)
* words swim or appear to float on the page
* problems with motion sickness (in car when I read)
* double vision (doing the exact thing you mentioned)
I have glasses. I don't wear them at all times. Only wear them when I drive or read. But as I have gotten older, I find myself wearing them more often. The glasses don't make me see that much better, but they do lessen some of the above mentioned symptoms.
I also spend a great deal of time at the computer and that sometimes the letters appear to be blurred.
Is This Normal?? 
