anyone else with strabismus? - Eye & Vision Message Board

squish · 06-08-2003, 10:28 PM

I am 18 and I have had this condition my entire life. It's when only one eye can look directly forward, and the other one "wanders" either inside or outside. I think this is the condition.

I also have a condition where my eyelids don't open all the way, thus I have to sorta bend my neck back and put my chin up to look staight.

These conditions are very frustrating at school, talking to people face to face, going on dates, meeting new people (especially mean people who point it out and ask "what's wrong with me"). It makes me feel bad. I'm doing a little better with it, but it's so damn frustrating sometimes.

who else has these conditions? I've never met anyone with either. One thing I'm grateful for is that my right eye is strong, the right lid opens more than the left, and the left eye "wanders" out rather than in, so i don't look cross-eyed.

Shaman · 06-09-2003, 03:57 PM

Squish-

You are not alone. Strabismus (any misalignment of the eyes) afects 2-4% of the population. It can be caused by many different things. Because you have ptosis (drooping of the lid), I suspect a congenital nerve problem (Third nerve palsy maybe).

You need to be seen face to face by a board certified pediatric ophthamologist, a member of AAPOS if at all possible. The PO can refer you to an ocular plastic specialist to address the ptosis if it is interfering with your vision and discuss with you your options for treating the strabismus based on its cause.

I think that it is very important that you address these issues because of the head tilt you describe. Over time this may begin to cause neck problems so this IS a medical issue not a cosmetic one. Do not let anyone tell you it shouldn't be covered by insurance because it most certainly should.

I do know how hurtful it can be when other people comment on strabismus. I was born with large angle "A" pattern exotropia (******d turn) of the right eye. The older I got, the less it bothered me, and the less people noticed it. Your attitude makes a BIG difference in how people react to it. Yes, there has been the odd jerk who was really aggressively rude about it, and that did hurt. I learned to look them "straight" in the eye and call them on their behavior. People who say mean things regarding your eyes would simply say mean things about something else about you if you did not have strabismus. A bully is a bully. One person I know refers to his strabismus as his "jerk detector" (in polite company at least!). He says it saves him a lot of wasted time and effort on people who wouldn't have been worth it.

Keep a positive attitude while you explore your options. You are not alone and it WILL get easier.

Hope this helps.