Strabismus

[Kellyd1121]

I have vision in both of my eyes, but they do not work together.  My left eye is dominant and while it is working, my right eye turns inward slightly (like a lazy eye).  When I cover my left eye and let the right one see by itself, it straightens.  I have had an MRI and they could not find any problem with my eyes or the muscle in my eyes.  I know it is probably neurological.  I can see perfectly, so I am not worried about my vision, but on a cosmetic basis, it bothers me that my right eye turns in.  My eyes used to be straight and I was wondering what might have caused this late in life (late 30's) and is there any cure for it?  I have been to doctors in my town and nobody has an answer since it is not an eye muscle problem.  I am able to drive and everything else with no problems, but I am self conscience about the right eye turning in.  Would some kind of therapy help?  Thanks in advance for your help.

[Houman Vosoghi, MD]

No, not worth looking into.  Mostly hocus pokus.  There is really only one strabismus condition that responds to eye exercises.  An ophthalmologist who specializes in strabismus is the way to go as they can offer you both non-surgical and surgical options.  Unfortunately I have seen parents who don't want surgery for their kids go see a "vision therapy" specializing optometrist with the result being amblyopia and permanent vision loss in one eye.

HV

[Candace888]

A friend of mine just started working for an optometrist who specializes in Vision Therapy.  I believe she told me that they work with people who have the kinds of issues you have.  The excercises that they give help the eyes "team" together and work together and she said that they have seen improvements in the look of the eye as well.  It sounds like the type of issue you have, might be worth checking in to???

[Houman Vosoghi, MD]

You need to see a strabismus specialist/pediatric ophthalmologist 1) to make sure no one else missed anything in the diagnosis (unusual to get adult onset esotropia) and 2) to offer you potential treatment for this.  Assuming there are no other problems and all you have is alternating esotropia, this could be surgically fixed.  Find one near you at www.aao.org on the right side of the page and search for pediatric ophthalmology.

HV