Sudden Cross-eyed Vision NOT double vision

[jenej]

I've looked everywhere online and haven't found a single thing about these incidents/episodes with my vision.  FYI - I have astigmatism in both eyes, nearsighted, migraines with aura, and that's all I can think of that would be related to why this happened.  I am 31 years old, female.

About four weeks ago (3/28/09), suddenly my vision went cross-eyed.  But I was not intentionally crossing my eyes.  It felt the same as if I were intentionally crossing my eyes, but I could not control my eye movement at all.  It lasted about 45 seconds or so.  Then my vision went back to normal.  I felt the slightest bit dizzy (not even 10 minutes), and my eyes felt strained (for about an hour) afterward, but I was not in any pain, and my eyes did not hurt.  I did nothing about it at the time, because I figured it was nothing to worry about.
This happened a second time two days ago (4/20/09), exactly the same except it lasted only about 30 seconds.  And the same feeling...slightly dizzy (about 5 minutes), and eye strain (about an hour) afterward.  None of the same circumstances were present from the first time it happened.  Just out of the blue, sudden cross-eyed vision.
I immediately looked online to see who I should call/see (ophthalmologist or neurologist?) & made an appointment with an ophthalmologist.  My appointment was this morning.  My eye exams were all normal...nothing out of the ordinary.  She set me up with a blood test for possible myasthenia gravis, but she says it's most likely not the issue. She said she wasn't really sure what to tell me because she had never really heard of this before.
She told me that the next time it happens to cover up one of my eyes to see if I can see clearly.  She also said it could possibly be a TIA, but I am not in the right age group.  My main concern is if it happens while I'm driving, as it could be very dangerous!

Any ideas?  Explanations?  Suggestions?  Thank you!

[chewbacah]

You people have made me feel like I'm actually not going insane! I am 23 years old and I experience the cross eyed feeling on almost a daily basis now. Sometimes it lasts for long enough that I start to get headaches. I do not wear glasses and my vision is great according to the optometrist.

It does happen when I'm driving, but I will just close or cover my right eye (probably not the safest thing, but hey). Always my right eye, though. If i cover my left eye, my right eye has a tough time seeing things clearly. I have to close my eye way too often to read and write things and see pictures or faces or whatever clearly. I feel like an idiot. But anyway, I don't know if its worth it to go see a specialist after reading all of these comments. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's much that can be done.

[JohnHaganMD]

When you look at something close if you pay close attention to the peripheral vision you will see double and if you are looking at something far away and you hold a finger or pencil up in front of you it will be double. That is normal and is called physiologic diplopia (double vision) If you are interested in the explanation of this read about it on wikipedia.

[Margie1___1233]

My eyes go cross eyed when u close them and also if i am focusing on an object nearby the object in the background is double and vice versa.I have very bad eyesight, -6, but i have -5 glasses. I was wondering if that was the cause. Im nearsighted and 14 years old
I spend a lot of time on my phone too

[JohnHaganMD]

The focus muscle is very strong age 11 so this problem is mainly in the young. If your glasses correct for farsightedness then not wearing the glasses is the likely cause.  JCH MD

[Coolbackflip]

I have had the same experience it was very scary especially that I am 11 years old plus I have glasses but they broken I am getting them fixed

[achillea]

You have helped me a great deal with several eye issues, and you are most welcome.