Duane's Syndrome questions

[Silly Mommy]

My 2 yr. old son was just diagnosed with Duane's Syndrome, type 1, and I have a few questions:  1)  I understand that surgery is needed when there is an 'unacceptable' head turn. What makes a head turn 'unacceptable'?  and 2) What limitations do people with Duane's experience?  My son's vision is excellent and most people don't even notice the misalignment of his left eye.  I don't want to impose limitations, but I also want to be prepared for what lies ahead.  Thank you.

[Forum-OD-MP]

sometimes people with Duan's syndrome and other oculomotor problems develop a "head turn".  they turn their head to one side or the other to reduce their amount of double vision.  most people who have a head turn have it b/c when they look straight ahead like everyone else, they see double.  they ony DO NOT see double when they have a head turn.

"unnacceptable" head turns would be ones in which the patient or the parent decided that it was so noticable that they wanted to do something about it.  in that case it would be a cosmetic thing.  OR an "unnacceptable" head turn to an eye doctor may be one where the patient has to turn their head so much to avoid seeing double that the patient is actually occluding the image of the other eye with their NOSE.  to me that would be unacceptable...

the short version is that the term "unacceptable" is probably a relative term in this situation...

[kg22]

I am an 18 yr old with type I Duane's Syndrome.  I never developed a head turn at all and it does not cause me many problems.  I do have double vision when looking to my left (it is my left eye and it does not turn out) but this usually doean't cause issues.  I notice in class sometimes when having to look that way a lot I would get headaches but after I talked with my teacher I was moved to a better possition for me.  There was a few times when I was first learnign how to drive that I noticed it when I was checking behind my left side and I just had to turn my head more to see and it wasn't much of an issue. My syndrome is only noticable when looking to the left so it is not a problem for me with other people commenting on it. Sometimes people don't realize I am looking at them if they only see that eye and I'm looking over my shoulder at them, that is the only time I experience people looking at me diferently, mainly they are just trying to figure it out.  
I have 20-20 vision and am the only one in my extended family to have this, I was told I would need glasses by the time I was 12 and now over 5 yrs later I am still perfect in that respect.  I am not aware of all of your sons info but for me this syndrome has not limited me in much of any way.  I am sure your son will grow up into a fine man and this syndrome will not be an issue.

sorry it is so long.

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