Problem focusing on one person's eyes/hyper-peripheral vision

"For the last 3 years, I have had difficulties focusing on just one person (a person I am talking to or who is speaking) when there are other people's eyes in my vision. My eyes will either dart over to the other person's/people's eyes, or I will be very aware of them in my field of vision, to the point where the person I am not talking to becomes aware that I am "watching" them.

This creates very awkward and uncomfortable social situations. And in university, I would spend many lectures staring at my desk in order to avoid this problem.

Watching movies also often ends up very uncomfortable because I can usually see the person I'm sitting beside in my peripheral vision and thus have trouble not "watching" them.

However the worst is in social situations, because I am a very social person but will avoid certain group activities because of the discomfort of this problem.

The problem eases when I drink alcohol, and with enough alcohol can disappear.

Several things happened during/preceding the period in which I first noticed this problem which I think could have caused it. They are:
- a period of extreme trauma/stress I had
- smoking a lot of marijuana during the same period (about 5-6 months)
- a head injury from falling down stairs while inebriated
- a skin treatment I got which tightened my skin and still feels a bit as though it is pulling out from my eyes

I went to an ophthalmologist, but he didn't think there were any problems and thought it might be something psychological. But I think it is something neuro-ophthalmological (neuro-optical). Any ideas how to improve my problem or what might be causing it? I haven't managed to find any similar disorder anywhere on the internet. Also, I am young, in my early 20s, and am otherwise very healthy. Thanks for any help! "


This discussion is related to Problems focusing on one person's eyes/hyper-peripheral vision.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Please see a neuro-ophthalmologist.

Dr. O.