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No, surgery does not always work - especially when you wait to have it fixed.
My eye doc told me that after the age of 2, it's a crapshoot whether surgery will help.
It's more of a brain issue than a muscle issue. Surgery will fix the hardware (eye muscles), but the brain will not use the eye that wanders unless the person utilizes vision therapy - which in the US insurance does not normally cover.
To answer the original question:
I used to suffer from strabismus since birth. I have had, to date, six surgeries. The last one finally worked, and my eyes look normal except when I am tired.
While it would be nice to say that people ignore it, they do not. People looked at me with disgust or pity when I walked down the street..Or, they would turn around to see what I'm looking at and then ignore me as if I were not there. To this day, I cannot make eye contact in a crowded room or while walking down the street.
I truly feel your pain. It's hard to say whether people will overlook it. In my case, they did not. I'm a woman, though and we are judged more harshly on looks IMO.
Good luck.
Seems this poster has the info. I suffer from messed up eyes as well. It's not really "lazy." It's usually the left eye. But it's a case where both of my eyes can't be straight simultaneously. They pull on each other, or something. If my right eye is straight, the left one is turned in toward my nose. If the left eye is straight, the right one will turn in. So that's not lazy. I checked out surgery, but it was a big risk since they'd have to to surgery on both eyes. if they just did one, then my eyes would be further messed up and even more noticeable. Then there's the possibility of infection, blindness, or double-vision which may never go away. And my vision is already bad enough without seeing 2 of everything since it's 20/200.
I just started putting my hair over my left eye. You could grow your hair out and try that. Or try a patch. Something that is different, but could be fashionable. If you want to get extreme, or take drastic measures, you could have that eye removed, and replaced with a glass one. You'd be surprised how extreme some are willing to go.
As the quoted post says, it's possible that many will notice, and not be willing to overlook it. But some, as seen in this thread won't give a crap, and some probably will genuinely not notice, unless it's pointed out.
I am very self-conscious. Surgery was too risky, simply for vanity alone. So, ultimately I just decide to conceal it.
Here's what I have.
Spoiler
Last edited by HappyRain; 06-26-2015 at 04:44 PM..
Seems this poster has the info. I suffer from messed up eyes as well. It's not really "lazy." It's usually the left eye. But it's a case where both of my eyes can't be straight simultaneously. They pull on each other, or something. If my right eye is straight, the left one is turned in toward my nose. If the left eye is straight, the right one will turn in. So that's not lazy. I checked out surgery, but it was a big risk since they'd have to to surgery on both eyes. if they just did one, then my eyes would be further messed up and even more noticeable. Then there's the possibility of infection, blindness, or double-vision which may never go away. And my vision is already bad enough without seeing 2 of everything.
I just started putting my hair over my left eye. You could grow your hair out and try that. Of try a patch. Something that is different, but could be fashionable. And if you want to get extreme, you could have that eye removed, and replaced with a glass one. As the quoted post says, it's possible that many will notice, and not be willing to overlook it. But some, as seen in this thread won't give a crap.
I am very self-conscious. So I hide mine. Surgery was too risky. And it's mainly a vanity issue anyhow. AT home, I don't have to hide it. When I go out, you can believe I do.
I don't regret my last surgery one bit. I had it done by the top strabismus specialist in my state. If I had him the first time, I wouldn't have had five surgeries.
I understand the fear, but having straight eyes was worth it.
You're a young man with hardly any life experience and you have decades to grow into your own looks, get the girls, etc. You are so young every tiny defect seems huge.
Please believe us when we tell you, in a couple of decades your eyes will be the least of your problems.
I believe it is related to eyesight, the eye that goes sideways is often blind or visually impaired.
I believe also that surgery can correct it.
It's very rare in Australia as we have public health which fixes it in childhood.
A friend's daughter had a lazy eye, she was supposed to wear eye patches as a little one to avoid the surgery, the muscles can correct on their own...but try keeping a patch on a 2 year old. Her eye still wanders when she's tired.
Interesting. I have a "lazy eye", and did have to wear a patch when I was little, to try and strengthen the eyesight in that eye. There was no surgery for it. But it never wandered, still does not, and there is no difference in the appearance of my eye from the other one, I just have poor vision in that eye. I guess there must be different types of "lazy eyes".
The right person won't be the slightest bit bothered by it. Anecdote: my good friend recently married a woman with a similar ocular condition, in addition to albinism.
I don't regret my last surgery one bit. I had it done by the top strabismus specialist in my state. If I had him the first time, I wouldn't have had five surgeries.
I understand the fear, but having straight eyes was worth it.
I suffer from some type of strabismus turned amblyopia and I live in CA I'm about to have a consultation soon and would like to know what surgeon you used maybe I can get a reference to the best surgeon in my state...thank you in advance
I suffer from some type of strabismus turned amblyopia and I live in CA I'm about to have a consultation soon and would like to know what surgeon you used maybe I can get a reference to the best surgeon in my state...thank you in advance
Sorry, I am very particular about the information that I share online as to not reveal my identity (location, etc.).
I will not give that information to anyone - especially a one time poster. No offense, but he only practices here, so I have no idea how giving you his name can help you get a reference where you are.
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