Eyes crossing involuntarily

[ddmarre]

What is going on? My eyes started crossing involuntarily.
My first experience was at work on a break, I was walking with a co worker and suddenly both eyes crossed and frightened me I could not see and had to alert her and we sat down. It did not go away seemed like forever but most likely 30 seconds. Never had another until this morning, was reading and got up to get something from a file cabinet when I bent down a little my right eye crossed. I closed the crossed eye and opened my other and could see clearly to sit down and relax for it to subside. I did not have a headache with it nor anything else.
I am perplexed by this because 1. it is frightening 2. dont know why it is happening 3. dont know when it will happen again.


This discussion is related to Sudden Cross-eyed Vision NOT double vision.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It could be "spasm of accommodation", it might be significant uncorrected hyperopia (farsighted), it could be a strabismus problem (eye muscle problem).

You need to see an eye MD ophthalmologist.

JCH MD

[ddmarre]

Does it matter that I wear glasses and am nearsighted? The first time it happened with my glasses and second time I did not have them on. And why would this start now I am 56 years young, it has to do with getting older?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes it may be due to "presbyopia" which is the loss of focusing power as we age, it could be that you need bifocals or that your distance glasses are over corrected. See an ophthalmologist. Eye MD.

JCH MD

[ddmarre]

Thank you so much Sir, I have found an Ophthalmologist and making an appointment.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Good luck. If possible post what happens in your case. JCH MD

[ddmarre]

Went to see my Ophthalmologist in August found nothing wrong. Then 1/27 happened again, getting ready to read no bright light, no glasses on and then my eyes crossed. had to remain calm to let it pass, when it did immediately made another appt that same day and nothing found, however, going home I had an occular migrane in my right eye and drove slowly, Took about 10 mins to disapate. Yesterday had an occular migrane come on when bright light hit my eyes in a resturant pulled shades down and this time in my left eye, went away after approx 15 mins. Today at work, looked into my computer to set up for business and the light above me and the light off the computer gave me a feeling of the right eye was going to cross scared me and went home sick. I am concerned now wondering when i have these then an occular comes on or vise versa. Have an appointment with my PCP next monday regarding this.

[ddmarre]

Sir, dont wear my glasses for up close 18 inches can see from computer or reading I remove them, and wear only for distance. 29 inches unclear vision.

[hutch210]

Did you ever figure out what happened?? I am having the same problems. I am 18 years old and also have migraines but I haven't had a bad on in a while. I get headache's daily, sometimes bad but sometimes very dull. Lately, my vision has been getting worse (really blurry, and sometimes doubling) but the other day I was taking a practical exam, looking in a microscope and when I would quit looking at the microscope my eyes kept crossing and took about 30 seconds to focus back. After I left class, my eyes still did that randomly for about 2 to 3 hours. I don't know what is going on but I think I should go to the doctor soon!

[ddmarre]

I went to see my PCP and she is sending me to a neurologist. These doctors have never heard of this before (I took the 25 pp who responded that this happened to so she did not think I was crazy) they are not aware of what steps to take, but this will be the first one for me to find out. I think the scary part is that no one can say " you're lacking in a vitamin, or you need to do this" and without this that is what is concerning. Being that you are so young is concerning to me, as this just started for me and I am 56. My doctor asked me and I will ask you, were you able to see clearly or was the vision black when crossing. I told her it was not for me cause it was as if I was purposly crossing my eyes. Mine do not come with pain just a slight pressure linging butnot painful. I dont have any pain with my occular migrianes either. when I was in my 30 / 40"s I use to get painful migrianes when light hit my eyes I would have to go home to sleep in a dark room or wear sunglasses all day long. I try to take vitamins and suppliments and when I have pain I take feverfew more so than the asprins it helps the same way. I try to stay clear of manmade medicine.
I will keep you on my mind and lift you up in prayer young one!
Debra

[Jillfox]

I’m having many of the same issues.  Did you ever get a diagnosis?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

That posting is from 2012. If you have a problem start a new post.

[tmthiele623]

The same thing happened to me this morning. I was talking to my husband, I turned my head slightly to look at the TV thru the corner of my eyes & all of a sudden my eyes were crossed! It lasted 30 sec., no pain, no blurry vision afterward. I am near sighted, and 50 yrs old. I just hope it doesn't happen again, it was very frightening.

[ddmarre]

I went to see a Nuerologist who was suggested by my PCP when i went to see her. He suggested next time this happens to put a hand over each eye and describe what you can see, ecord the time by counting 1 mississippi, 2 mississippi etc. or if someone is near what are they seeing your eyes are doing and then i am to call him. He said it is not associated with a disease in the brian as it would be constant, it could be associated with stress or a painless form of migraine. Because I did not record anything when it happened (cause it scared the crap out of me) he can only assume but is very interested in helping me. Hope this helps for you to make a report and let your PCP know.

[tmthiele623]

I will keep a record, it hasn't happened since, and I just hope it never does. I didn't have any headache before, during, or after the incident. Hope you are doing well, and thanks for your quick response.   Theresa  :)

[Snesi]

I have the same problem, I'm 23 years old, I have headaches every day and I have migraines with aura, but I have perfect eye sight. It's a very bothersome feeling, it really is like if you're going cross-eyed, but I've looked at myself in the mirror while it happens and I've also had friends look at me when it happens and I don't really go cross eyed, it just feels like it. If I cover one eye I can see clearly, it also seems to help if I press my thumb against my forehead between my eyebrows, and when I do not fear of my head exploding because of a migraine, hitting my forehead also helps.

[ddmarre]

Yes i hope as well, since written i have not had another, think it was all stress related!!!

[ddmarre]

WOW, that is exactly what the neurologist asked me to do close one eye and see if i could see and have someone see if they are really crossing!!! and then I was to report to him. I advise you to see your PCP to get a referral to a Neurologist or just go see one!

[sappl38220]

I had this happen a few yrs back and it stayed that way for around 30 days, give or take.  Eye Dr had temporary  prisms fit into my glasses so I could see straight and go about my life as best I could.  Now it is happening again, for a few seconds to a minute at a time.  It is scary and it is hard to think rationally during the episode.  

[fromptok]

I have experienced this since June '05 while on a road trip it just hit me.  It use to come every few months and last a few weeks but my most recent "attack" as I'll call it has been going on for over 3 months now.  This is my experience...when it first started, I could always tell when it was going to happen because my temples would pulse a few times and then my eyes would feel like they were crossing, wiggling and spinning.  Then while my eyes are doing this, it felt like a wave starting from my eyes and would go to the back of my head and come back forward a couple times then the eyes and then ending at my temples.  Also, it felt like I would "black out" for just a split second and it's very hard to focus (especially if driving it feels like you're swaying) .  Myself and other people have looked at my eyes while this happens and they don't appear to be moving.  Over the years it's come on more frequent and lasted longer.  But this most recent experience started out like all the rest but now it seems to be just more focused around my eyes and closing one eye helps sometimes but then sometimes it don't.  I am in the process of being diagnosed with MS but as of right now, not enough evidence for anything definate.  I've even had a VER evoked eye test and nothing showed up.  I do have ovoid plaques in/on left and right frontal lobes.  Would love to know what this is as my neuro has no clue at this time!

[usc2013]

This same thing happened to me yesterday. Driving on the freeway and out of nowhere my vision became blurred. I tried quickly shaking my head to snap out of it but no luck. I pulled to the side of the road and continued to shake my head and open & shut my eyes but my vision was still blurry. It felt more like it was cross eyed than blurry. I covered one eye at a time to see if it was a problem with one or the other. Each time i covered an eye i was able to see clearly ... but uncovered i became cross eyed again. It finally shook off after 1 minute or so. For the next 20 minutes my eyes felt a bit unstable, kinda like they were weary maybe. They feel fine today.

I'm 55, male, active and very heathly, no meds and blood pressure is normal. Headaches occasionally but nothing serious. My first thought was a mini stroke but don't think so after reading the original blog and comments. A couple people have mentioned MS, my grandmother had MS. Man, i was scared though, luckily it was daylight and i could make out a path to the shoulder ... nighttime might have been a different story. . I'll keep this blog posted if it happens again.

[agb82]

This happened to me this morning. I was cleaning out my car and all of a sudden my right eye felt like it was crossing and my vision out of that one eye became blurry and it made me disoriented. Did you ever find out what it was?

[bubbles4131]

I am no expert.  I just would like to share my brother's experience.  He was 27 at that time.  He was driving when his right eye involuntarily crossed.  No other symptoms.  We took him to a neurologist and after a series of tests, they found out he had a tumor in the brain.  Unfortunately, he did not survive the brain surgery.  He passed away 15 years ago on 19 October 1998.  May his soul rest in peace.

[KamiMayDay]

I am now 22 years old and I have had this since at least 14 if not younger. for me it is so sudden lasts maybe a second if that they cross and are back to normal. its completely involuntary and came on out of no where. when I was really little my brother taught me to cross my eyes I did it a lot and so I figured maybe it was from that lol. I am just curious why my eyes do this.

[klumpii]

Don't worry, the sudden eye-crossing thing happened to me - once while driving! - but it can be fixed! I had experienced it once before, a little over a decade ago. Apparently it was not a one-time thing. See a neuro-ophthalmologist if possible (may be pediatric, but it doesn't matter), as this condition worsens as you age. It was eye muscle surgery for me, for strabismus, specifically esotropia. Another term for it is 'squint'. I literally just had the surgery done days ago. I've been aware of my "wandering" eyes since I was a young teen but only *I* really noticed; but I hated having to work on "hiding" it from others due to the stigma of crossed eyes. It always occurred when over-tired or, as I discovered at a later age, intoxicated. Now that I'm in my mid-forties, things aren't as elastic as they used to be, and when my eyes recently crossed on the road (I was not tired, and definitely was not intoxicated) I made an appt immediately after researching extensively online. I waited weeks to get in, but indeed chose the right type of specialist. My first appointment was a couple hours long! It was an intense, but completely non-invasive exam, (though my eyes did get dilated at some point and I needed a ride home). Then I met the doctor, who knew exactly what was going on and had done >1000 surgeries for this condition, mainly on babies, but on tons of adults as well. [Important to know: He ruled out doing scans for brain tumors, but only because I've been aware of the problem for decades, and never developed double-vision.] So I took the plunge. I was super scared as I hate hospital settings, but didn't need to be. It went well with minimal discomfort, though I definitely needed assistance at home the rest of the day and the next. I actually had two surgeries in one eye as that one was slightly off-center (hypotropia)! Bonus: My headaches should decrease in number. My specialist/surgeon was David Bruce Granet, MD, located at UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA. I'm told that patients from all over the world come to him. If you can't get here, his office can probably refer you to another specialist closer to you. Good luck :)

[ddmarre]

I have not had this happen again since my last post...Best of luck to you.

[lennartstek]

If i lock my vision for a few seconds, so they like freeze, my eyes also start to squint (I hope i am saying the correct word now) but then they go outside and not crossing.