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adult lazy eye

Posted by stephg7 on 10/5/2006 9:36:05 AM.

I had a lazy eye ever since i was 6 and never corrected it and bot my eyes are farsighted so my vison is really messed up.  It really effects my whole life in evereyaspect and i just would like to know is there any one else with the same disorder and how is everyday for you?
Stephg7@comcast.net

There are currently 83 replies.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by ajay on 10/25/2006

    Hello I am ajay
    I read your problems like same problem i have so please read my story and become my friend too becasue i dont have friend so i need a friend by this way. I know the way i am using is not right but i dont know what should i do because some person told me that internet friend is not a true friend but i dont have other way please read


    my story.

    I am 24 year male
    During my childhood when i was around 3 years old my mother was sewing some cloths with a needle. Unfortunately my mother happens to be sitting so close to me that she accidentally injured my eye unknowingly. As she was not aware of my sitting to close, this was the most tragit incident that left me and my right eye to much badly injured leaving my right cornea totally damaged that i had to live a life of same and dishonor. The community where i used to live in was a community of rural and uncivilized people who frequently tortured me by telling me hurting words about my disability. The time of sadness and depression was to long for me telling from spanning from my childhood to my youth. Being a son of a forest guard i was so poor that i could not even afford a artificial eye. This took me almost 6 years of handwork to bye artificial eye and me. I hope that this much of chapter as regards my life would help u to understand me more closely. I think the words even are proved to be light and useless to explain that trauma of my life and my sufferings.
    With Regard
    Ajay Singh Rajput
    61,Yahoda Nagar Behind Electronic complex
    Indore (M.P.) INDIA




  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by sissy615 on 03/17/2007

    Hi, I am a 42 year old young lady that has lived with lazy eye my entire life. I had surgery on my eye when I was 8 years old, but as we know now that is too late. It has affected the way my life has been very much so. First off, I can not see very well at all. My right eye (veres to the right and up) closes automatically in sunlight which prompts alot of attention. Also I have begun to look down when I speak with people so they will not notice my eye. If I look at them ( when my eye starts to roam) I notice them looking back to see what I am looking at. It has been very difficult for me. I have reached the point where I do not like to look at people and even refrain from speaking with some because I am so embarrased. My vision is so bad (I wear contacts) that if I watch a movie on t.v by the time I am half way through it my eyes are almost completely closed and I develop headaches from trying to see. For everyone that has to suffer this problem, I definitely understand where you are on this. If anyone has heard of a treatment please let me know. I would love one day to be able to look somone in the eyes again and smile.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by jvoeller on 03/31/2007

    Hello

    My Name Is John, I have had lazy eye since as long as i can rember, when i was in JR/SR highschool i was diagonsed with
    i think Esophoria


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by jvoeller on 03/31/2007

    Hello

    My Name Is John, I have had lazy, and crossed eyes since as long as i can remember, when i was in JR/SR high school i was diagnosed with i think Esophoria and it can change from eye to eye and now i am 30 years old and have problems

    like taking my drivers license,
    sometimes i tend to double
    get headaches a lot,
    and as of lately have poor night vision

    a while back i had gotten pulled over and the officer had me basically pull my sleeves, and take my socks off to check my legs and feet, to check for needle marks cause he thought i was on something, alot of people think that cause of the way i look at them...

    and now i dont have money nor insuarance to get this problem looked at if anyone has any suggestions or anything please feel free to let me know


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by l01 on 04/05/2007

    hello
    i'am 36 and i have lazy eye in my left eye and i hate it
    i work in our high school caf . we have some great kid there but our new kid look at me and it hurts me
    sometime i have to work the lunch line and kids some time ask me if i'am talking to them and i hate when that happens. no one in my family now how i feel so thanks so much for having this message board.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by 3226156 on 05/15/2007

    hi everyone, my name is jun, come from china. i am so unlucky, my two eyes have lazy eyes, It really effects my whole life in evereyaspect,everything i see is not clear,and i am so flustrated of my eyes, i can not drive, i can not study well, and i can not see clear of the blackboard even i sit at the first raw in the class, now i am 24 years old, my life is still very long, and now i even do not know why i am studying at the university,i am so sad of my future,i do not want to live like this, everyday i dream my eyes can be treated even in the dream,... i born in china and live there, when i was yong, it is 80s,china is very poor,and the sciense is not good,and even the doctor did not find my eyes problem when i went to the hospital !!util i am 9years old i have lazy eyes. as you know, it is too late


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Eric_D on 08/24/2007

    Hi
    I have 20/160 left & 20/20 right. I had vision treatment in 1969 (aged 10) thru 1972 & lowered my left eye to 20/40(-) corrected & 20/50 uncorrected! But I became rebellious (without a father) & mother was forced to cease my therapies. By 1975 my vision degraded to 20/100 uncorrected. I eventually found ways to cheat on the driving vision test & have been driving well since 1978. I still retain binocular vision with reduced depth perception (I seem to have compensated well for poor depth percetion).

    I want to thank Dr DuPont (passed I'm sure), Denise Robles & her departed father for treating me. Most of all my Mom who did her very best to save me. Despite a loss in visual accuity I have two healthy eyes.

    As for me, I many times want to cry for how my life was affected. But, God has been good to me in very important ways giving me a good life with many additional consolation prizes. My cross is still bearable. May God bless us all in our affliction, especially those who suffer more than I.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by kwon on 09/15/2007

    Hi. my name is kwon and i am a 30 year old female who suffers from lazy eye in my right eye. For the most part i can look at people for a short while before my eye begins to wonder. So I basically have become very aware of what i'm looking at and for how long before i turn my attention to something else, in order to try an make it appear that my eyes are normal. It really does affect all aspects of your life especially when your significant other wants to stare into your eyes and they don't know about your condition. For some reason when i watch t.v. or drink it seems to be no way to control it at all. I would love to know if there is anything i can do to correct this condition so i can live a normal life.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by wanderingeye on 12/17/2007

    I'm 33 and I have a lazy right eye with exotropia (wall eye). I had corrective surgery at 4 yrs old and had to patch. As a child, I kept ripping the patch off and it didn't work too well. However, in the last few years, I have really started to notice that my right eye turns out - especially in photographs - yuck! I've done some research into Vision Therapy which I have read helps with Strabismus, Amblyopia etc. Has anyone tried this as an adult. Success rate for children is supposed to be very good, but I would like to know if anyone has tried Vision therapy as an adult? thanks!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by marieheward on 01/29/2008

    Hello,
    I am 50 years old and have a left lazy eye. I had surgery 8 years ago and it worked until this last year. I had crossed eyes as a baby and at the age of 5 the state of California made my parents take me and have my eyes fixed. I went through exercises, 2 corrective surgeries at Loma Linda. I would like to thank Dr. Scott (who is probably deceased by now) for his work. I know what living a normal life is like due to him. I also have people ask me "Are you talking to me?" Now my eye wonders worse than it ever has. It makes you not want to go out in public. In some instances you CAN have surgery and have it repaired. I am hoping that it can be reversed again. I will see in March. Good luck to all!!!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by jen_benz on 02/26/2008

    HI!
    I'm a 19 year old female, who was born with a lazy eye (my left eye wanders outward). Growing up I underwent the patch exercises, few minor surgeries...nothing worked. I'm shy as it is, so with this kind of disability it makes you all the more insecure and timid. I hate making eye contact with people, hate photos...It's such a hindrance to my self esteem. Yet, you know what I eventually realized, if I’m uncomfortable, so is everyone else around me, and if I just learn to relax and be myself...this translates to the people around me. When you have a lazy eye you feel like that's all people look at...this disability doesn't define you though and it's up to YOU to help people see something else. I have great friends, a loving boyfriend, I'm currently in university studying journalism and hope to be around people all the time an break out of this shell I was trapped in for most of my childhood. As easy as it is to talk about how much our lives suck and wait aimlessly for some kind of medical breakthrough...why no do something about it. Live a normal life, show people that one stupid awkwardly aligned eye has no impact on you and your capabilities…therefore it shouldn’t bother them either. Cheers.



  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by charliedavis on 03/01/2008

    even as an adult people ask me "what are you looking at ??" u just tell them i have a lazy eye and they drop it
    its frustrating sometimes cause u feel unbalanced alot cause my eyes are going this way and that way hopefully someone will find a way to fix it .
    good luck to everybody



  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Proton on 03/13/2008

    I am 49 and have always had a lazy right eye. Early surgery helped a little. My left eye requires correction and thus I wear one contact lens. My right eye is legally blind and tends to barely look up and to the right. I can still see out of my eye but it's like turning the dimmer switch to the lowest position. I have peripheral vision to a small degree in my right eye. Over the last 30 years, I have learned to control my right eye to some degree. But, my control methods have now pushed my right eye out to the right a bit more then years ago. I have to keep my head level when watching TV. If I tilt my head as in laying down, then my right eye will just take off to the inside corner. I HATE that so bad. Then I go look into the mirror and try to focus on my peripheral vision to the right and most of the time can correct the eye back to a normal look. Another way I correct myself is to look at a bright light bulb and quickly find my the light with my right lazy eye. That helps me to stay in focus. But sometimes, I don't even know its crossed until I focus. That sucks to not know.

    I am tall and have been very athletic in my life time. I still play golf, tennis, pool, hunting, fishing, biking, bowling but mostly always alone. I have been a loner all my life. I now live alone. People just don't understand what its REALLY like to be a outcast or ignored in a conversation. They don't understand how to look at me or otherwise look another direction. I look at them straight on. I have to be a little bit pushy to force my way in socially sometimes and because I refuse to be treated less then others, I tend to either gain there respect or completely loose the potential friend. I do have a couple friends that I can hang out with and for some reason, I have a beautiful girl friend that stands by me but probably because her son had lazy eye when younger. She won't marry me and I do wish I could be married again.

    The one thing I must say to everyone in here is that you MUST force yourself to be strong and not let it get you down. This is what we have. We have to live with it. Find your strengths and that includes me to.

    Write to me if you need to talk.
    Proton1905@aol.com
    Jim


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Charles1974 on 05/09/2008

    Hello
    My name is Charles. I am 33 years old. I was born with good vision. When I was 18 years old I was invited to play war games with some freinds. War games is one team with fight another team using BB or pelit guns. It did not seem like a good idea but I was bored so I went. I was shot in the face and the pelit went into my head and severed my optic nerve. I was told in the hospital after an attempted surgery that I would be blind in one eye. I was also told over time my eye would drift outward. To tell you the truth I was more woried about having a lazy eye more than I was being blind in one eye. I asked about what could be done and was told they could tighten muscles on one side of my eye to realign it. Today I went online looking for a place to get this done. I stumpled upon this web site. I read all the stories and wanted to share mine. My eyes do move together but when I look straight one eye looks a different way. I have been very insacure with my condition and liked to have found individuals in similar positions. My advice. I have none for this life time. My advice it that in your next life you won't have this condidtion. That time will come soon enough. Strugle through this life and find things that make you happy. In your next life I hope to look at you eye to eye and smile.

    Thanks for your time


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by krys_84 on 08/15/2008

    I am 23 ... almost 24 ... and I have had a lazy right eye since I was two. I went through two surgeries as a child and numerous testings. For about a year till I was 4 my vision seemed corrected. But after more testing, it went back again to the "lazy" form. I wore eye patches, but I hated the teasing and hated the way it felt on my eye, so I chose not to wear it as much as I should have. I can force my eye to be straight, but my vision is blurry and I get a headache when I force it for to long. My right on dominates and I am near sighted in that eye. I to have heard the question "Are you looking at me?" and hate making eye contact with people. 3D things irritate me so much. My friends and family LOVE 3D movies and such, but they do nothing for me. And NO ONE seems to understand that. I work a lot with kids (I'm going to school to be a teacher) and I found young children to be the most accepting of my disability. They don't judge and they don't seem to notice anything "different". I hope one day there is a surgery or vision therapy to correct this in adults. It would be nice to one day see through both of my eyes clearly. :( But I do love hearing everyone else's stories. Misery loves company, right?


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by dianamd on 10/13/2008

    Hi I’m 29 years old and I was diagnosed with AMBLYOPIA at age 3. I had eye drops until I was 5 years old. Then I wore glasses until I was in 8th grade. Then I was just told to wear them when I’m reading or using the computer.

    During my college years my eyes started to bother me again. It has been a struggling 7 years of seeing every eye doctors in town. One doctor diagnosed me with glaucoma (which I took medicine for 6 months for this and later to find out I was misdiagnosed) and other said there is nothing we can do to fix the problem. YOU NEEDED TO DO THIS WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER. My response was I did!

    I am grateful that I CAN SEE but I worried as I am getting older it is getting worse. The glasses do help but I AM STILL GET MIGRAINES, MOTION SICKNESS AND I ALMOST DID NOT PASS THE DRIVING TEST WITH THE GLASSES ON!!

    Is there ANY DIAGNOSES to help improve ADULT AMBLYOPIA??



  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Becka382 on 11/06/2008

    I have known about my lazy eye since I was in the 1st grade. The Drs worried it was to late to fix the problem, but never the less, I tried the whole patch thing. It didnt help at all. All it helped me to do was look like a fool. LOL I had to litterly stand in front of the chalk board at school to read anything on it. I ran into walls, and stuff like that.

    The eye specialist I was seeing who diagnosed me, told me that there was nothing they could do about my lazy eye. When I was about 17, I tried a new Dr. He gave me contacts and claimed they would really help. Wrong. They helped none. He also told me that I could not wear glasses at all, as one lense would be so much bigger than the other, it just wouldnt work. I didnt much care for that Dr. even more so when I found out that the conctacs did no good.

    I am now 26, and havent been to an eye Dr in years. I am making my appointment first of the year. :) My eye sight dosent seem to effect much in my every day life and I am lucky that both my eyes look normal. I only have one problem, Driving...I do have my permit, but no license. Im not a bad driver, I just get nervous as I cant seem to see all that I should be able to see on the road. Does anyone else have this problem?
    The last time I got my permit, the examiner who did the eye test, told me I better get my license soon, as my eyes were getting worse compared to my last test. (Ive had my permit many times, LOL) And that I might not pass my eye test next time. This worries me so, even to the point of putting off taking my test as Im afraid they will take my permit. (Allthough I know if my eyes are bad, I shouldnt drive)

    What do I do if I cant drive? I am lucky enough to not have to work at this point in life, but times are getting harder. And I might need a job soon. I was wondering if anyone else has problems with their driving?

    Thanks for listening. Its very nice to talk to others with the same problem as mine. To many times Ive been told to stop faking for attention. :) Or Ive been told by people with glasses "Hey, we cant see out of either eye, your lucky." But what they dont realize is that they put glasses on and can see good. Most of us lazy eyers arent that lucky. So thanks again.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by ChrisMason333 on 11/11/2008

    Hi I am Chris and I am 18 I do have a lazy eye, and I always feel stressed about it not to many people know about it because I can not make eye contact, and it gets me in really awkward sistuations. I can say that I am an alright looking guy but when it comes to girls they say they cant understand why I do not have a girlfriend, and I am really quiet spent my who high school years listening to music doing nothing :( I have not been to a doctor about it yet but I just want something thst will actually fix it so I can not be such a shy guy stressing about it everyday. Read tons of stories about many of you and its like wow some are pretty similar, and I do no how it feels, does anyone have any suggestions? :(


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Jvazquez521 on 11/30/2008

    Hi I have amblyopia and I am 23 years old. I've had it since I was three years of age.I am also farsighted and I have a slight stigmatism ( which is the same thing) I wear contacts because my eye glasses are extremely thick and they make my eyes look huge which is very uncomfortable and embrassing. I wear a +9 perscription in both eyes. I supress my right eye so my left eye is the strongest. My contacts seem to be working because they keep them from crossing but they do get restless because I have only one eye doing all the work. I would like to know if someone out there has a similar situation like mine because having amblyopia can be somewhat stressful.
    Thank you!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Jvazquez521 on 11/30/2008

    Hi I have amblyopia and I am 23 years old. I've had it since I was three years of age.I am also farsighted and I have a slight stigmatism ( which is the same thing) I wear contacts because my eye glasses are extremely thick and they make my eyes look huge which is very uncomfortable and embrassing. I wear a +9 perscription in both eyes. I supress my right eye so my left eye is the strongest. My contacts seem to be working because they keep them from crossing but they do get restless because I have only one eye doing all the work. I would like to know if someone out there has a similar situation like mine because having amblyopia can be somewhat stressful.
    Thank you!
    If you would like to share or respond my email is Jvazquez521@hotmail.com


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by will2live on 12/27/2008

    I am a 36 year old female who has lived with Strabismus all of my life. I was diagnosed when I was around 12. I have alternating exotropia where my eyes take turns turning out towards my ears. The fustrating thing for me has been that my eyes appear normal for most of the time. They will only turn out when I am tired, or sick or nervous. Due to that I was told that I am not a candidate for surgery. I understand what everyone has been going through because I grew up with Family members teasing me unmercilously. I also had to endure teasing in school. I count my blessings though because I have been told that I am very attractive, have a beautiful smile and other great features. My only flaw is the eyeturn.

    So I think God has blessed me in other areas. Its just very fustrating to deal with this daily. I have been to 3 different doctors and one who claimed to be an expert in the field, had written books, who I took vision therapy with, didn't even know specifically what my condition was or what specific treatment plan to treat my condition. Even he couldn't understand why the treatment wasn't as effective and just shrugged it off.

    Still he was not shy about taking my money and just beating around the bush. Half the time I would come to his office and leave fustrated because the exercises I was doing was things i could stay home and do myself and save my money. After about a year and a half of this nonsense. I noticed my eyes were no better than when I first came. I then decided that he didn't know what he was doing and was only interested in taking my money so i stopped therapy with him.

    For those considering Vision Therapy. Well I took it with 2 different doctors for a total of about 2 years. I will say that it improved my ability to help my eyes work together as a team alot better than before but it was not a magical cure for me. I have been told and from my research I know that my strabismus is the most easiest to treat with a 99% cure rate, because its not constant it comes and goes and I have binocular vision and depth perception. My eyes almost function normal besides the occasional eye turn. Yet I have been to 2 doctors. One claiming to be an expert who didn't do anything to help me except take my money and waste my time.


    While I was taking it, my eyes felt stronger. I even managed to go without my glasses for a while. I noticed I can spend hours reading without getting headaches and all.

    However Vision therapy unlike surgery does not cosmetically improve the look of your eyes and it is very expensive and time consuming and there is a chance that for most people it simply will not even be effective.
    That to me was pretty hard to swallow after spending $1,000's of dollars and hours wasted in Therapy only to have the same things happening with my eyes as before in some cases worse. If you are going to do Vision Therapy just be aware of the costs and the risks and that it wont change your eyes cosmetically. Unfortunately I am not a candidate for surgery or I would have had that long time ago and been done with it.

    I just keep praying to God for a solution and there are some doctors in Europe who are working on better ways to help people like us but unfortunately it will take some time before the technology gets here to the U.S

    In the meantime. I suggest educating yourselves thoroughly about your condition. There are many resources online and at your local library. Read up about it so that you can better understand what treatment options will be beneficial for you and not what some doctor says he thinks would be best for you. If you do seek the Vision Therapy option, ask plenty of questions and also maybe for references from other patients (Adults) who have been treated successfully. Also ask about what specific plan will be used to treat you. Get an estimate of costs and time beforehand. Then get a second opinion just to be sure this is right. As treatment and evaluation for this condition can be downright stifling as far as expense goes.
    Good Luck and God Bless,


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by ProvidenceGirl on 12/29/2008

    I, too, have a lazy eye. It is my left. I have completely lost binocularity, so I can't ever use both simultaneously. The vision from this eye is 20/20, but I can't focus on anything, like reasing a book, and don't have the same amount of light entering, if I use the left. If you stop and think about it, it is so silly! Anyways, I am 28 and am fed up with the same "nothing can be done" answer. Not so. I found an ophthalmologist, Anthony Vivian, in the England that performs a corrective surgery. There's tons of information, as well as patient testimonials. I live in the US, but a 2 week vacation to England won't hurt anyone, especially if all I gain from it is being able to look people in the eyes when they speak to me. So here is the website.

    http://www.lazyeyesite.org/

    Please take a look and correspond with me, if it suits you. Best of luck!
    providencegirl@live.com



  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by nijat on 02/13/2009

    Hi ! My name is Nijat. My eye is lazy too. I have been came to Vancouver about 2 years. some times I hate myself. but you know life is continue. there is no body can help me at this time, Because it's too late ? I don't think so I have been fund some interesting game. after that game I feel better. I don't know is that a good way. I covered my better eye. and use my lazy play some soccer. base ball . ping pang . even when I am running. you Know it's ganna work.. keep it every day . Ok guys . that my life, try it . believe yourself. !


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by cp.3 on 03/23/2009

    Hi everyone I am morris. And my left eye is always wondering off..I always have to wear glasses I've been like this since I was 3 years olld.I love to play basketball but what people say to me make fun of me afeects me no matter how hard I try to ignor it. Its hard for me to focus on an object for along time cuz my head starts hurting. Bieng cross eyed has affected me so much my self astem my personality I don't like lookin at people in the eye cuz they always make fun of me. I am 17 years old. And I want to cure it..so if you guys have aany information contact me.morriscotto@tmail.com. God bless


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by cp.3 on 03/23/2009

    Hi everyone I am morris. And my left eye is always wondering off..I always have to wear glasses I've been like this since I was 3 years olld.I love to play basketball but what people say to me make fun of me afeects me no matter how hard I try to ignor it. Its hard for me to focus on an object for along time cuz my head starts hurting. Bieng cross eyed has affected me so much my self astem my personality I don't like lookin at people in the eye cuz they always make fun of me. I am 17 years old. And I want to cure it..so if you guys have aany information contact me.morriscotto@tmail.com. God bless


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by cp.3 on 03/23/2009

    Hi everyone I am morris. And my left eye is always wondering off..I always have to wear glasses I've been like this since I was 3 years olld.I love to play basketball but what people say to me make fun of me afeects me no matter how hard I try to ignor it. Its hard for me to focus on an object for along time cuz my head starts hurting. Bieng cross eyed has affected me so much my self astem my personality I don't like lookin at people in the eye cuz they always make fun of me. I am 17 years old. And I want to cure it..so if you guys have aany information contact me.morriscotto@tmail.com. God bless


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by lafd on 03/26/2009

    hi everyone . i am 18. i have had a lazy sense i was maybe around 9 years old. i started out not that bad i had too look way too the left for my left eye too get all whacky. my left eye is the one thats bad now. i cant read good with it now and im starting too need reading glasses when i read for long periods of time or in a dark area. its only when i look left now. now i just barely have too turn my eyes too the left and my left eye gets all off. its becoming worse and worse. and now im getting worried about it. i dont know if its just gunnu keep getting worse and worse then im gunnu eventually lose my eye sight in my left eye or if its gunnu eventually work my way all the way too where ever i look its gunnu be tweaked. im wondering if i can wear a patch like i keep hearing about on this message bored. is it the good eye that you cover up?. im just wondering if theres anything i can do. any comments or anything please feel free too tell me. thanks


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by mpc on 03/29/2009

    Hi,
    I understand the frustration that we feel with having this disorder of a lazy eye, but we should be grateful for all we have; good health, good friends and family, good eye sight. Please stand tall and capitalize your i's. There are many successful people with this disorder. I know of an eye surgeon who has this disorder. My son inherited this disorder and he is frustrated as well and I've encouraged him to become a doctor or researcher who might discover a cure or prevention of this disorder.
    MC


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by mpc on 03/29/2009

    PS
    Check with your eye doctor. If your doctor recommends covering your eye with a patch, he or she would probably say cover the good eye, which might help strengthen the weak eye, but it should be left up to your eye doctor.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by yacko_inc06 on 04/11/2009

    My name is Schawn an I too have a Lazy Eye. I don't ever feel sorry for myself because Christ Made me the way I am today. Most of the time, I don't even think about it. I always look tired to folks, because of my eye...but most people don't even notice it.

    My wife has only seen it once, and it doesn't bother her at all.

    What I worried about is when I had my Son Parker. I worried that he would have the same effects that I did...but with the grace of god...he doesn't...and boy is he a cutie.

    I wanted to tell everyone who reads this...that it is not your fault. God created us this way for a reason. Most of us are sure who we are, and when people don't want to understand...it is not our problem...it is theirs. We who have lazy eye's are bothers and sisters in Christ...and keep that as your focus. If you are made fun of because of it...look at them and say...I'm happy, because God Made me like this, with his own two hands....why would I want to be any different?

    I love you all, and look forward to seeing you in heaven one day!!!!!!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by jeremiah411 on 04/26/2009

    I am a 30 year old male, I have spent my entire life (that I am aware of) with a lazy eye. In my early years with this condition I had zero control over my eye, but in the last 6 - 7 years I have found, that I can, if I focus hard enough, keep my eyes working together, but it requires a lot of concentration and it has a bad side effect

    I am trying to train myself to keep my eyes working together and I only attempt when I am around people. Within less than 5 minutes my eyes feel like they are being ripped apart. I actually think I might have an extremely unique situation. When I look out of my left eye I can see (20/100) out of my right eye I can see 20/40

    As for the side effect, If I control my eyes and make them work together; I am virtually blind, everything becomes a giant blur and no amount of practice seem to clear up the blurriness, (but at least when my eyes are blurry, I know that I look normal to other people and that makes me feel better about me). I can't drive, heck I can barely walk without running into something in this condition... but as you all know, it is so much better to feel normal to other people that whether or not you feel good or are personally physically comfortable.

    As others have mentioned nothing hurts more than the way people look at you, those stupid questions (what are you looking at...) people asking if you have a glass eye, people laughing at you, and the one thing that really gets to me, when I say something to someone and they look around behind them to see who you are talking to. I remember spending many nights crying in my bed all alone, no friends, family didn't care. (actually they didn't, I was locked away in my room)

    I have never had a girlfriend, because I can't see how anyone could possibly love a freak like me. I don't trust people and over the years developed an avoidant personality disorder.

    Oh well god decided to make our lives miserable for a laugh ... god bless him.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by supawil on 04/27/2009

    whats up i am 39 yr old male had lazy eye all my life i used to wear a patch but i would take it off i wish i didnt but my left eye is the lazy eye and my right eye i need glasses so i really cant see out of my left and my right i wear glasses all my life i been sad about my eyes and wish i could make straight eye contact it has made me a shy not confidence man who has been left out alot because of my confidence i have trying to find help for adults but no cure yet. i bought these 2500 glasses from a doctor who told me it will cure my eyes but it hasnt worked well just wish there was cure so i could see straight


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by luznakch on 05/29/2009

    My name is Chad, I am 25/m and my life has completely changed in the last 3 months. I started to experience double vision. I first noticed it at work, as I sit at a computer screen all day in a call center. It progressively got worse and now I have double vision almost all of the time, say like 90% of the time. At first, everyone thought I was crazy or making it up. It really was frustrating. After about a month however, my left eye started to noticeably turn outward. At first, it was usually when I was tired, looking at a computer screen, or watching t.v. Now my outward eye turn is noticable more times than not. The double vision I experience is out of control. It occurs almost every minute of the day. I also get horrible migraines, dizzyness, fatigue, vomit a lot, and basically am unable to work and have a tough time driving. I have been to several doctors and the last one I went to was a specialist who deals with exotropia. She suggested since I never had this condition when I was younger and had not suffered any head trauma recently, that there must be an underlying cause. In the last month I've had an MRI, MRA, and CAT scan. The MRI and MRA was just two days ago and I don't know results yet. I am very frustrated and extremely depressed now as I cannot live a normal productive life. What do I do? The specialists suggested if the mri/mra don't show anything then I should try prisms. I would do anything to make double vision and headaches go away. At this point, I don't even care that my drifting eye looks crazy. I have nowhere to turn. Please give me advice someone


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by HennyTehHen on 06/02/2009

    My name's Kenny, and I'm 17. I've been blind in my right eye since I was born, but it was only when I was 7 that I was diagnosed with glaucoma.

    Since then I've had 4 surgeries and now my eye looks like a lazy eye: it looks outward to the right. Needless to say it sucks hardcore. It's really awkward in front of cameras and I'm frequently very self-conscience unless I'm with my best friends.

    However, your life will really be what you make of it. You can wallow in self-misery and be depressed (I sometimes find myself doing this), but you can also admit to yourself :"Yes, I have this condition, but I'm going to make the best of it".

    I have great friends, am looking forward to going to college and enjoy life for the most part.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Patman21 on 06/07/2009

    I was diagnosed with lazy eye when I was in 5th grade. I used to be called the 'cross eyed freak' and i didn't know why. My good eye deteriorated enough so that I can see, but could get corrective lenses. 5 years later, I have learned to deal with it and live life like normal. It's more a joke and with my glasses, my eyes switch, but is less noticeable. People in class will ask about it, and I will take off my glasses so that they can see. I don't mind at all. I think the worst part though, is the inability to use those nifty 3D glasses. I currently have my permit and have very few problems with depth perception driving, (except for the occasional near rear end). I do not plan on getting contacts or any surgery though. Not worth it.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by VISAUCE on 06/10/2009

    I am a 39 year old woman. I was born with a blind crossed right eye that crossed inward. I have had surgery to straighten my eye at 4 years old & 10 years old. I've done the eye patch as a small child but nothing worked. I grew up being teased by some family members as well as a few kids at school. Growing up this way can make you depressed and make you self conscious. Today my right eye points outward (wall eye). It stays in that position and never moves. I deal with a lot of people at work and it does annoy me too when they look over their shoulder to see what I am looking at. I must get a pissed look on my face cause noone ever asks me what I am looking at. I try to avoid looking people in the eye as much as possible due to this. I wear glasses because my "good" eye has eye strain from having to do the work for both eyes all my life. Nobody has ever really explained to me what my condition is but I have gone to a doctor that says it is possible to fix my eye. I wont ever be able to see out of it due to a birth defect but it would be nice to have straight eyes to feel at least a little more normal..


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by mangoman on 06/14/2009

    I am 18 and have had no vision in my right eye since birth. My right eye used to sit in a corner permanently but I had two surgeries when I was about 4 (I think) and it's relatively in line with the left now. I also have a squint and the main line of focus for my left eye is just above my nose, but I guess it compensates for having no vision on the right. My left eye is also slightly short-sighted.

    Anyway, the point I wanted to make is how grateful I am for having any vision at all I've never been bothered by lack of vision or depth perception, and once people know about it they usually accept and ignore it. I'm just grateful I can drive and grateful to be alive. Thank you for all the inspiring stories!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by jayz on 07/01/2009

    hey im im jay i just found this page browzing and i was looking for some kinda help with my disorder i see people saying things im going though every day its very deprssing for all of us they have know i dea how bad it is for us i hav completly great visoin in my left eye now in my right i have a blured vison i was born with cadderact had it removed and a surgery to line my right eye up with my left i felt it was ok for a will i had the surger when i was like 7 im 25 now and like its back to the start agian it goes in once in a wile i hate looking in peoples eyes i hate being ecnored in conver sation it is the most hardest thin i haved to deal with ALL MY GOD WHY US WHY i could sit here and cry but i have to much pride i have a pretty girl i can tell sometimes when she looks at me strange like with a fake smile looking at it and i forget but that reminds me i have it all the time i have no insurence i need help anbody please please leave a comment please this is for every body we all need to be helped in some kinda away my name is jay im looking for a friend to discuse this with well got to go my girl just got home i dont want her to see hiy me back som one


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Noobie on 07/03/2009

    Hi,
    I'm in my late 30's and I've had a lazy eye all my life. I had surgery when I was 4 years old and patched. But the patching wasn't successful as I kept taking it off, much to my mother's irritation.
    During my teens, my eyes seemed pretty straight. Only when I was tired did my lazy eye start to drift out as people would ask if I was talking to them or the person next to them!
    During my 20's, my lazy eye started to drift out more often and became more noticeable as I approached my 30's.
    During my early 30's, I had a few vision therapy. Whilst they helped me to concentrate on pulling my lazy eye in and therefore straight, it didn't do more more.
    I have consulted three separate doctors for surgery, and each one advised me against it as they told me that although it would correct my eye 'cosmetically', the results would not last forever. They said that they could not guarantee how long the results would last before my eye would start to drift out again. And they all said that my eye would start to drift out again, but it could be in 5 or 10 years.
    I came across an interesting article in the Science daily about research into treating amblyopia in adults in case anyone is interested - http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303190647.htm
    Lazy eye is a neural deficit as the brain doesn't know how to use the two eyes together. Many doctors told me that all babies have to learn to use their eyes together and for the minority that that don't, end up with a lazy eye.



  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by mss85 on 07/11/2009

    Hello all! My name is Mandy, I'm 24...and I too have a lazy eye. Its my right one. My mom took me to the doctor when I was 3 (when she noticed it) ,and he told her there was nothing wrong with me. So she later on took me back, and said since she had let this go on for so long untreated...there was nothing they could do. I've been so depressed since I've realized my condition. I didn't notice it until I was 16. People have made fun of me my whole life, I can't muster up the courage to look anyone in the eye...I hate taking pictures. I'm so tired of letting this eat at me. Is there anything I can do for it being as old as I am?


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by VISAUCE on 07/12/2009

    Hi Mandy (mss85)
    I'm 39 and I had recently gone to a pediatric eye doctor that also corrects Strabismus in adults too. You may want to look into that in your community. I last had surgery at 4 & 10 years of age. My right eye is legally blind & went from crossing inward before surgery to eventually crossing outward (& staying that way) by my teens. I also was ridiculed by others growing up. I too thought that I must be too old to have surgery but the doc had told me surgery could be done at any age. You will have to check with your medical insurance provider to see if you would be covered though.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by casteye on 07/21/2009

    Hi I am 25 soon to be 26 year in less than 24 hours. I'm a female. I have lazy eye in my right eye. I inherited from my dad. He had it in his left eye though. I am the only one in my family that I know of with this condition since my dad is no longer living. I have been wearing contact lens for about 10 years. The contacts of course don't correct my eye problem but it helps (fyi my contacts have to be special made and it is expensive). Sadly, my lazy eye is still obvious with the contacts but it helps me not feel too much like crap. I have social issues too. I can't stand looking people in the eye at close range. I always try to stand as far away from people during a convo or at an angle as much as possible. I try to look and angle my self to the left. Anyway, I am obssesed with mirrors or my reflection. I'm always looking at my eyes to see how bad the lazy eye looks. I constanly take pictures or sometimes make videos to look (analyze) at my eye. I'm always trying to convince myself that it's not that bad but it never works. I know I need some type of self esteem therapy. I want to be comfortable with my eye and who I am. I want to appreciate the fact that I am not blind and I have a decent good eye. Living with my lazy eye is like living with a huge burden. It's always so heavy on my mind when I'm in social situations. Anyone, have any tips on being more comfortable with my lazy eye? I want to forget about it while talking to or looking at people. The problem isn't for people to accept my eye but for me to accept my eye. I matter the most. I'm stopping myself from living life fully and I hate it.
    btw I am not willing to do surgery because of the cost and risks. I tried the patch shortly years ago, I gave up due to frustration and laziness.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 08/08/2009

    Hi, my name is Zac, and I'm 17 years old. I have a lazy eye in my left eye and am considering surgery soon to straighten my eyes out. The eye doctor said that some doctors use a new method where they freeze your eye and adjust it while you are awake so they can better align your eyes. It sounds great and all for what I want, but the only thing I'm concerned about is how good my vision will be after the surgery. I already see doubles most of the time when I think about it, I don't mind it much right now but I remember for a month or so it was really bad and I got really sad and frustrated about it, anyways, so I came here to ask people who have had eye surgery to straighten their eyes if you see double vision and if it is permanent.

    PLEASE RESPOND

    THANK YOU!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Staygoldd on 08/15/2009

    I'm 18 years old, and I love to party and go out with my friends on a regular basis, as any girl my age would do. I'm also pretty and have a nice figure, I'm outgoing, but I have a lazy eye. It seems, it eliminates all my good features. It's slowly deteriorating my self esteem. It's to the point now, where I won't speak up in conversations. I won't make eye contact. And I absolutely dread being with more than one or two people, like being at a party or something. I also work full time, and that is getting exceedingly difficult..helping customers..socializing with co-workers..everything. I go to the bathroom every day, stand at a distance from the mirror, and see what people see. It's absolutely depressing. I realize that ignoring it and making people see that it doesn't affect me in a negative way is for the best, 'cause it's basically all you can do. But then people look at me and smirk a little, ask if I'm on something, or ask what I'm looking at...I know exactly what they're thinking and I can't even do anything about it.
    I've had two laser eye surgeries, once when I was 14 and then again when I was 18. At 14, I was stupid and thought it was fixed so I stopped with the eye drops. I didn't realize how bad it would get. And after my recent one, it's gotten worse. If you have this condition, it's best to stay away from drugs and alcohol..if I would have known, I definitely would have stayed away! Now I'm more depressed and suffering than ever. If anyone has any good coping mechanisms, let me know..because nobody deserves this, and I want to be who I want to be and be able to live!!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by nostayer on 08/23/2009

    Hey, my name is Tim, and Im 22. I was diagnosed with glaucoma as an infant and had 3 surgeries in each eye. I was then put on glasses and a patch to correct my right eye from turning in. The problem was fixed when I was younger up until about a year or two ago when I started to notice it coming back. I wore glasses up until highschool when I stopped wearing them because I didnt think they helped much. Later, in college, I started to notice my eye turning in when i would look at things up close and focus as well as randomly in social situations. I would be drinking at a party and someone would start laughing and saying I was cross eyed. Even after I noticed my lazy eye coming back I was able to hide it by not FOCUSING when talking to people. When I'm drinking though, I seem to not have control over it. I have really started to notice the vision in my right eye deteriorating, and I don't know what to do. I am under the care of ophthalmologist and an optometrist who I see twice a year, and neither have mentioned anything about my condition, and apparently my vision is fine in both eyes. I know this seems weird, and I dont know what to make of it. I am gonna try patching it today, and if that doesnt work, ill definitely talk to my ophthalmologist about it. I just KNOW that Im not using my right eye at all, and that worries me because I feel like it will just get worse, functionally and cosmetically. I just hope the damage to my eye is not something I could have prevented like if i would have just keeped wearing my glasses. Anyway, be proud to be able to see, I will always be, and thanks for the stories everyone. Good luck.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by yzhu on 08/28/2009

    Hi everyone. I am a film student at Stevenson University who wants to do a story about a child who has lazy eyes. I would love to understand more about how this condition affects the lives of others in order to help create this character realistically. I want this story to be powerful, informing, and influential. I always like to say that when you look through other people eyes, you'll learn a lot. If you have lazy eyes and or have experience with lazy eyes, and you are comfortable sharing your story, please contact me at yplzhu@gmail.com for an interview. Thank you so much for your attention. I wish you the best.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by emeraldsunsets on 08/28/2009

    I am a 35 year old woman, 12 years ago I had developed herpes simplex-cold sore virus in my left eye. I developed uveitis, and my retina began to detach, and developed a major cateract. After numerous surgeries, I lost vision in that eye, and it slowly began swinging inward and becoming a lazy eye-large angle left esotropia. I am due to have eye muscle surgery in October to correct the lazy eye, but I will never regain my vison. I can see colors and shapes, but it remains very hazy, and gives me double vision along with migraine type headaches.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by TAKT on 10/18/2009

    Hi, my name is jonathon, im 25 now and i have to say ,WOW its really cool to see so many other ppl are having the same issues ive had for forever, ive had a lazy eye since a was born, my eyes were crossed when i was hatched due to too much oxygen from being born pre-mature.
    I had an operation when i was young in which they moved my eye over too far and my parents were told that I would have to wait untill i was 18 to have another operation, earlier this year i went back to the same doctor Dr. Richard Simon of the center of eye exellence in miami at baptist hospital for a so called free eye exam in which i was unknowingly given eye dialation eyedrops as part of the consult, (btw i took a bus a train and walked to this consult) once i was blinded by the eyedrops i was charged 200+ dollars for a so called free eye exam and left to walk to the bus and take a train home blinded!!!! thank god my girlfriend went with me no doubt i wouldnt of made it home alive with out her.
    Shame on all you corrupt doctors taking advantage of people. DR. RICHARD SIMON AND THE CENTER OF EYE EXCELLENCE AT BAPTIST HOSPITAL IN MIAMI FL_
    C R O O K S!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by John81 on 10/23/2009

    I have a lazy left eye and trust me I am highly embarrassed to have it. Back at my end, no one back at home has this problem except me. This really makes life o difficult. I have no social life.

    I work 5 days a week and during my weekly off, I do not go out anywhere.

    I have now even come to a decision of not getting married as I do not want my wife to ever feel embarrassed because of my Lazy Eye.

    Only people with a Lazy eye would understand how hard life is. Nearly everyday back at work I get to hear so many negative comments, that people pass out about my eye.

    Anyways, I guess this a part of life & I would have to face it for the rest of my life.

    Have a nice weekend ahead.

    Thank you..


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by 1mistyb on 10/25/2009

    I'm a 33 year old female. I live in Texas and had lazy eyes since birth. I had the operation at 5, then again at 32. My insurance paid for it. It was an outpatient procedure that lasted about 2 hours. I can now look at people in their face when they talk to me. I still sometimes look away because that's what I was use to doing all of my life. I use to have suicidal thoughts, I was depressed all the time and teased all through school. I have a child, but during my pregnancy, I was so worried that he too would have a lazy eye. I was told that the operation was only successful with children, but it can be done on adults as well. The specialist realigns the muscles in your eyes so they will not drift inward or outward. I am so much happier now.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Stealth on 11/13/2009

    I am a 40 yo male who has a right lazy eye. I have had this problem since I was young and was taken to a doctor by my mother only for him to tell her not to worry that it would correct itself in time. Needless to say it has'nt, and as I grew older I guess I was able to adapt to it with the turning or tilting of the head (unbenongst to me) to bring things into one image because I was seeing double. It was when I turned 30 that I noticed I started getting headaches..severe migraines because of the constant struggle my two eyes were going through just to see correctly. I visited and Opthamologist and she said that I pretty much lost the ability as I got older to deal and adjust to the problem hence the constant headaches. She recommended surgery to fix it stating that the procedure is not performed on adults usually and that it would only correct about 75% of it. That's a pretty good percentage and elected to have it done. That was about ten years ago and I noticed that my vision was better and that the headaches had decreased significantly. Now in the last few months I noticed the same problems recurring with the headaches being worse now. I cant watch TV or even perform some jobs because I really pay for it at night with the extremely painful migraines so bad to the point where I'm vomiting. I saw my eye doctor a few years ago and I told him that I had the surgery and he said that follow up surgeries for that procedure might be needed. At this point in time I don't know what to do because I am just so tired of this. I feel for everyone here and only wish that it could be corrected with a one time procedure because my life has and is a living hell because of it.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Gisele3 on 11/16/2009

    hi everyone,

    I'm a 35 year old mom of 3 beautiful children!
    Well, I have a lazy eye on the left side which is really bad.
    Have been to so many doctors since I was young and growing up they all said it's not a wise choice to drive for safety reasons and that theres not much they can do to fix my eyesight.
    I've been feeling more and more depressed about it because I cant drive my kids anywhere and my 8 year old keeps asking when I'm going to start driving. i also feel like my husband is not very undestanding about it!
    I'm even embarassed to tell people...have to always make up excuses for not going to certain events.
    I did manage to get my license 5 years ago but a dr had to sign a form....I just refuse to drive because I know how bad my vision is and for the safety of my children.
    Al these dr's have put this fear on me and I guess thats why I'm so nervous as well to even think about driving.
    Sorry for this being so long! I just needed to ven!
    Thanks,
    gisele


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Lonny on 11/23/2009

    Glade to see their are other like me here who experience the same what Ive been threw in life.
    My story pretty much starts as most of your.
    I'm a 37 y/o male who developed my lazy eye in the left eye at or around the ages of 5 - 7 or so. I had a operation around the age of 9 or so was told by doctors to were my glasses. Feeling embarrassed I never did or rarely wore them. Now I so fracking regret it. I avoid talking to others as much as I can family included. It's also why I have had very few women in my life. Its sad to say that when your young and the girl your with is having a conversation your over hearing about what would your kids look like if you stayed together is pretty much a Mike Tyson ko to ones self esteem at the age 16.
    Seeing a doctor now I get the say advise theirs no help cosmetic surgery "glass eye" is your only option and I don't want that.
    Id rather go blind or wait out and hope for the best before I did that.

    I will close this by saying if you have kids who has a lazy eye[s] please encourage them to do as the doctor says or they will regret it for the whole entire life.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Nyphri20 on 12/16/2009

    Hello,

    I'm 20 years old and have the condition known as Amblyopia ( lazy eye) on left eye. I prefer to use the scientific term rather than "lazy eye", but that being said I know what you all are going through. As it is quite tough to live with at any age.
    Well I had surgery to correct the laziness at an early age, it sometimes still occurs in some situations. As there is no permanent solution. Because it has to do with the brain rather than the eye itself.

    But as of right now I'm more concerned about my vision as there is only blurriness in the amblyopic eye. That's where "Magnetic Brain Stimulation" will hopefully cure the adult amblyopia condition. Here is news of hope if you haven't read http://www.medpagetoday.com/Ophthalmology/GeneralOphthalmology/10161


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Darkia on 12/20/2009

    Hi,
    I am 23 female and have lazy eye all my life. No one told me about it. Friends that I have had for years said that they noticed it but never said anything since they thought it would be rude to.

    Having had looked back at my family yearly pictures which we have taken one every year but maybe two, in my pictures when I was younger, I noticed that my eye was to the side, no one noticed it before. Now, I'm not the type of girl who is constantly checking herself in the mirror, worried about her looks since I've always been a tomboy. It wasn't until my senior year when I noticed it. I asked my dad about it and he didn't know so he made me an eye doctor appointment and that's when we found out that I had lazy eye.

    Apparently, its too late for me but I found something interesting about lazy eye through my teenage sister who also has it. The doctor she went to gave her special lenses that are supposed to force your eye to focus! I haven't tried them out myself but I plan on getting an appointment with him over the holidays.

    I haven't noticed anything majorly wrong with me and the last eye doctor I went to said that it doesn't affect me as much but I think that since I had lazy eye she just wanted to get rid of me as fast as possible. I noticed that a lot of the doctors I went to did that. Seeing as how they never even told me I had the problem in the first place.

    I have difficulty at times telling whether or not things are straight or crooked.

    I'm not too sure about distances at times.

    Sometimes when I am on the train or walk into a room where it is quite long behind my standing point, things get... odd... I can't quite explain it but it gets off...

    And for the last year I've finally started working on getting my drivers license but I


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by beth2384 on 12/24/2009

    Hi. I'm Beth. Throughout school, no one ever believed that I couldn't see out of my left eye even though I was told by doctors that I was blind in that eye. I've gotten through most eye exams by "cheating" and switching my eyes when the person giving the test wasn't looking. It's also how I passed the DMV eye test.

    In addition to basically being told that I was a liar for most of my life (they all insisted that I must see something), I also have no depth perception, see numbers backwards at times, and get headaches over my lazy eye.





  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by paramedicharris on 01/05/2010

    My name is matthew harris. I am a 20 y/o w/m living with both minor/major deviation of either L or R eyes at separate times- sorry if thats a mouthful. Anyways, I too have experienced that awkward social moment in a group of people, when the person you thought you were addressing, actually pauses your conversation to ask: "with which of us are you speaking?"

    Regardless of the level of sincerity involved with that question.

    Inside I think... "Wow, that hurts."
    Outside I say... "It was nothing, nevermind."

    Oh, and apparently there is some reason why we amblyopes are missing the ability to see 3D as well. Actually, I can speak for everyone... but when i put on those glasses for 3D movies it was either Red or Green light filter (Not a combo of both producing some sweet 3D effect).

    Either way, I am trying to find more information on this topic with a stronger medical basis, however the results of the latest clinical study performed by Lijuan Liu at the Beijing Xiehe Hospital (2007) show that The treatment-which involves a very simple visual task-was effective on 20-year-old subjects. Amblyopia was considered mostly irreversible after age 8.

    Inside i think: "this is amazing!"
    Outside i say: "this is probably just a load of crap... again."

    For those with normal vision who cannot seem to grasp how "different" the world seems to us amblyopes... try to imagine this:

    much like the first paragraph (and many similar posts) have mentioned before... it is much easier to stare at the ground and have a lazy-eye go unnoticed, than to willingly face ongoing social humiliation in unfamiliar settings where the average person doesn't understand what it is like to constantly think about avoiding eye contact.

    Now think about the world from that angle... 90% of your life.

    Check out this study and draw your own conclusions, but I say we have the power to rewrite our own futures... and fix a problem that went unattended for far too long ago.

    http://amblyopia.freeforums.org/new-advances-amblyopia-study-on-20-y-o-t3.html


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by kathymabile on 01/16/2010

    I am a frustrated parent of a 16 year old who has amblyopia. It was discovered in 4th grade and we went through the ey drop treatment and patching. His vision started out 20/232 in his left eye. They improved it to 20/70 with a contact. He refuses to wear his contact and eventually will loose eyesight in that eye. When they are young and can see well with one eye you can not make them understand the importance of taking care of the bad eye. I hope someday there is something out there to correct this problem. Now he would never patch his eye or use eye drops because it is too embarrasing for him.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by obsidian on 02/08/2010

    I am 19 years old and I have strabismus in my left eye (one inch to the left) not a big deal but it affects my life its funny how people prefer to judge others for the problems they have TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 02/16/2010

    SOMEONE ANSWER THIS! ok, so I'm not too sure if drinking makes my lazy eye worse? I have a very slight lazy eye and was wondering if anyone else knows if drinking alcohol effects their lazy eye?


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by eyesstink on 02/17/2010

    i have found out recently that i have a lazy eye & im 16, reading these stories upsetted me greatly, i have one good eye & one that is just lazy but it doesnt move around, it looks normal will it start moving around? also cant somthing be done to improve ur lazy just by a little bit? i mean so i could just see a little better? please reply i could use the help.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 02/23/2010

    ANYONE? I want to know if drinking alcohol makes your lazy eye worse!?!?!?!

    Anyways, another thing, hopefully an inspiring story for some of you, I did have 20/100 or something vision in my lazy eye, probably worse than that actually, and i decided to patch and do some vision therapy even though my eye doctor said there is nothing i can do (I'm 18) but i got my lazy eye to be 20/20 vision! still hard to read and stuff (things close together) but it's 20/20 with my right eye at 20/15 which is better than normal. Anyways, i'm going to be doing more therapy later to get my eyes to straighten out and fuse the images together (hopefully). My vision therapy doctor says she has accomplished this with many adualts who have amblyopia and strabismus. wish me luck :)

    oh, and if all else fails i'll get surgury, but i want to be able to see 3-D and be able to drink alcohol without my eyes going crossed which is what i'm guessing will happen if i get surgery?


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by ninajackson on 02/27/2010

    I have lazy eye and I noticed when I drink it makes it worse.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by ninajackson on 02/27/2010

    I have had lazy eye in my right eye since I was born. I have never wore contacts or glasses which i desperately need and will probably get soon. I have never done any surgeries.It does put you down at times but I feel like life is to short to let it control your entire life. You try so hard to look normal for people that a hundred years down the road will all be faded away. Please dont forget how short and precious our time is here on earth so dont let this get the best of you and control your happiness in life. Its not worth it, I promise!!! I have a social life, a good job, and great friends because I force it not to get the best of me. I also had professor in college with this condition that are very successful people and its because they decided not to let it control them. Imagine, they had the courage to speak to college classes of about 100 with a lazy eye! Now I dont have that much confidence, but they were very inspiring to me. They showed me that life is what you make of it and if you accept yourself that others will too. Again, i know its hard, i will always have my down moments about my lazy eye no matter what. But im just saying dont let it control your every thought every minute.

    Also, I did not realize how many people with this condition cannot drive. I have never had a problem with driving. I just use my left eye.


  • adult lazy eye
    Posted by sweet_serenity on 03/03/2010

    Hello,
    My name is Maria, Im 19 and I have had a cataract since I was 7 and at age 9 I realized I had a lazy eye. I never had treatment for it or my cataract. doctors diagnosed me with an infection but didnt help me out. Whenever my right eye moves I feel some pain, sometimes unbearable. Im not sure if its normal or not. If anyone can help me out that would be wonderful. I have no health insurance or anything.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by fretsmissing on 03/12/2010

    Hello, everyone

    My name is Geoff, I live in the UK and I am 60 years old.
    My heart goes out to everyone who has posted here. I deeply empathise with all the frustration and pain that you have expressed - although of course I am
    sure that we are all grateful that we can see (I guess everything is relative)

    I've always had amblyopia in my left eye since I can remember.
    On my first eye test (aged 5-ish) I was genuinely shocked to discover that I
    couldn't read the top line of the chart with it - even with a "corrective" lens. LOL
    because my brain suppresses the blurred image.
    The right eye was slightly far-sighted but practically 20/20.
    Of course over the years, with the onset of "old-age sight", which most
    people get, I've needed to wear glasses - but that happens to people with
    two good eyes also.
    So we all need to take care not to strain the "better" eye. e.g when reading
    or working at the PC take frequent breaks.
    The Bates method I think is good in this respect (palming, relaxation, blinking etc) but you don't necessarily have to invest big bucks in a teacher
    This lady (HappyHag) on YOUTUBE offers good free advice IMHO
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i8L91_UxBI

    Normally I am not aware of the image from the weak eye.
    If I "think" about it I can straighten it and the vision in it improves slightly
    but overall with the two eyes together, straining away, I see worse LOL.
    Avoid strain at all costs.
    Check out HappyHag's video on Binocularity or any of several Youtube vids
    about the Brock String.
    IMHO the String exercise is a good way of gaining a measure of mental control of your eye muscles. No, I don't have control - but it's better than it once was.
    Yes, I've always had to endure the remarks and yes I notice my eye gets worse
    if I'm tired or have a drink - but it's not my problem it's their's, so don't look
    away! Do you really value the opinion of people like that? Do you really want to
    be around them?

    I realise that appearance matters to everyone, especially to young women.
    But girls - whatever you look like blonde, brunette, bald, tall, short, thin, fat, pear-shaped, muscular - there is someone out there for you. I have two
    sisters with lazy-eye, both are happily married.

    The thing that gets me down sometimes, I must confess, is the 3D thing.
    I can't get anything level e.g "straighten" pictures or plane wood. I can't play small ball games like tennis.

    I've never driven because when I sit in the driver's seat I am conscious of the huge "blind spot" on my left side. When I'm being driven by someone else and
    their car is going through a narrow gap I have had to learn to trust their
    judgement because I have NO idea whether we are going to make it or not.
    Interestingly, some of us seem to manage - I suppose it is the same for people
    with binocular vision in that some of them drive buses and trucks while some
    cannot, for whatever reason.

    Anyway, I've rambled on for too long. Good luck and good health to you all.
    If anyone wants to comment etc please feel free.











  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by wreck303 on 03/19/2010

    My name is Danny and I am 16. I was diagnosed with a lazy eye at 3 and never really noticed until I went completly blind in my right eye before I was nine. I was wondering can I get compinsation from the state for having a disability!?!


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by fretsmissing on 03/22/2010

    Hi Danny,
    First let me state that I am not an expert in anything, just a fellow amblyope.

    Are you blind in the lazy eye or in the other eye?

    As I live in the UK I don't know about America, but I guess you could do worse than ask someone inside the ABF for advice?

    What is the condition of your vision at the moment?

    Geoff


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Canadian48 on 03/30/2010

    I am a 48-yr old woman who has had crossed eyes since I was a child. It started to get worse when I was around 35 yrs old and started to wear glasses again after having worn contacts since I was 18. I have had a few consultations to see if it can be repaired. However, I was advised that there would be a 50/50 chance that I would develop double vision because my eyes uniquely both cross (one at a time while the other eyes focuses on the subject at hand). The doctor told me that it is unique because I can see out of both eyes now at the same time. For example, I can look at something that is on the left side using my right eye and vice versa, and can see what is going on with both eyes. I have never had any problems socially as I feel comfortable with myself and have learned to accept my limitations. I use the 'problem' to my advantage. I can see what others are doing when they think I am not looking. And anytime anyone else has made me feel uncomfortable or said anything, I turn the situation back on them by making them feel uncomfortable when they cannot figure out which eye is looking at them. I simply switch from eye to eye. And if someone says I didn't say hello to them, whether I wanted to say hello or not, I just tell them that I didn't see them because I was looking with the wrong eye. People can be cruel, for sure. My friends no longer notice that my eyes cross. I have no problems driving, with the exception of being overly cautious about approaching traffic. I have learned to deal with it with a sense of humour. I walk into things because my depth perception is poor. I didn't even realize I had a depth perception problem until I burned my bangs off with a bunsen burner in a university chemistry class! I was lucky to pass the vision test for my driver's license at age 16, but it was a close failure until I moved one eye slightly to see the object I was supposed to see! For everyone with this problem, please just ignore the ignorant people out there, and realize that it makes you unique!
    !


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by fretsmissing on 04/03/2010

    Hi Canadian48,

    Are you worried about developing double vision?
    If not why don't you try to train your eyes to work together?
    Watch the Brock string video on Youtube
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGlCVTdNqfw

    Also check out Happyhag's videos (see my earlier post - 12th March)

    What have you got to lose?


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by thekid05 on 05/10/2010

    Hi my name is kevin i have a lazy eye I am 17 years old i was born with a lazy eye. people talk about me a lot because of my eye i don't like to talk to people because that will look at my eye. i cant ever get a girlfriend because of the way i look. and i stuck looking like this 4 ever. Thanks for reading


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by fretsmissing on 05/14/2010

    Hi kid05,

    Read through the thread before you give up.
    Check out my earlier posts.
    You can send me a message at yahoo.co.uk


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 05/23/2010

    WHY IS EVERYONE SAYING THAT THEY WILL BE LIKE THIS FOR EVER? First off there are always new inventions to help problems. Second off, I'm sure a lot of you on this message board can fix your lazy eye with the technology available today, it will just take a lot of Vision Therapy. I did have no hope until I started researching, which I do for just about everything, and then I found some vision therapy places. I have gone to a University for amblyopia in Waterloo Canada, a vision therapy doctor who specifically works with amlyopia patients and has cured many adults at ages like 40. And I am scheduled to go to another place in my hometown, Guelph. PLEASE DO THE SAME THING AS ME! Talk to as many people as possible and search for Vision Therapy clinics or even just eye doctors but they probably are not up to date with amblyopia and how it CAN be cured in most cases. I have been doing Vision Therapy (a videogame i play with a patch every day and patch for 4 hours a day) and have improved my vision dramatically! My lazy eye is now 20/20, was 20/200 or something. But the 20/20 measurement is just one of many. There are many muscles that need to be trained so I can control them properly. I am about to move on to the next phase of straightening my alignment and using my eyes together. My one vision therapist was absolutely sure that I could fix my eyes it would just take a LOT of work, which I'm sure a lot of you are up for like me. IT isn't fun, not going to lie, but I just listen to the radio (The Alex Jones Show) when I play my games and play videogames and work out and stuff when I am patching (by the way I still beat everyone online). I will keep updating everyone on how my progress is going, it will take a long time, but once I fix my eyes I will reach out to as many people as possible and give them hope, and probably bitch at my local eye doctor who told me there is really no point in doing anything, he thought that I wouldn't be able to improve the vision in my lazy eye at all yet it is now 20/20. Can't wait to get back to you all! Oh, and for those of you who have a very complicated condition and think that vision therapy really won't work, now that 3-D movies/TV is becoming so popular, I'm sure there will be a lot of people trying to find a cure for the amblyopia problem since there are a lot of people with it, weather it me minor or not, who will pay quit a bit to get it fixed.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by minico on 05/27/2010

    Zack... What video games are you playing? I hear that first person shooters are good, but I have also heard that there are special video games out there to play. Any advice you could give on what game you are playing would be greatly appreciated.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 06/13/2010

    See a Vision Therapist. They are not Call of Duty or anything like that they are boring find the letter type games. I used a program call Amblyopia or something and to get my eyes to 20/20. But my left eye is still not even close to my right eye because the 20/20 measurement is just one of many of the functionality of the eye. And, now I'm not doing the video game stuff and am moving on to one on one vision therapy with a therapist to train my eyes to worktogether. I am also doing reading with a patch and doing things like filling in letters like e's, b's p's a's o's g's and d's in news papers with a pen with a patch on. I find this really makes my eye work hard.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by smechtler on 06/14/2010

    I've had a lazy eye since day one and have been living with amlyopia for over 40 years now. I guess its 'mid-life' crisis time and I'm sick of how I look. I won't complain too much though because I've have a good life, family, husband, career, etc. but it still bugs me sometimes. Especially since it has gotten worse as I've gotten older to the point where it (my right eye) is soooo far to right it sometimes feels like I've pulled the muscle in my eye and I get headaches.

    But, I did not comment to complain, but to say that I've read many of your posts and feel sorry for some of you, frustrated with others, but mostly impressed and thankful for Zac's posts. Zac, I love your perspective and positive outlook. I know some of you cannot afford to see a specialist, but keep researching and trying new things or find a way to be a satisfied with who you are and who God made you to be.


  • Everyday when I wake up and before I sleep I feel the pain
    Posted by bobbyM on 06/17/2010

    Hello ,

    My memories of growing up with a lazy eye was not bad as a kid. Untill latey at the age of 21, Its like the roof collapse on me. My bad eye feels like its getting worser and Im scared to think about the future. Everyday activities has become very difficult. I cant focus or read with ease and I know its the eye. Life is a bitch and I feel for all of you. Thanks for reading and best of luck for all
    as we`ll need it most.




  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 06/19/2010

    By the way, to everyone who has read my posts, Vision Therapy is VERY expensive. My Dad's girlfriend luckily works at a University which covers most of the cost, but other than that, I'm going to be doing 1 hour sessions twice a week for a month which cost $100 dollars each session if you don't have any insurance to cover eye care costs.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 06/19/2010

    Oh, and just to give an idea to people of what I've been doing now. I got to put on these glasses that forced my brain to use both my eyes (prison glasses) and a bunch of other things. But right now I have to stare into a special green light for ten minutes and stare into a special red light for ten minutes each day. Seems weird but apparently it helps, and I can see how it does but would take a while to explain.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by AlexT on 06/25/2010

    Hello Zac,

    Please contact me at wolfbeta@hotmail.com

    Thanks.


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by rojcohen on 06/26/2010

    Hey Zac,
    Please email me at rojcohen@aol.com I would like to speak with your doctors and the university and perhaps follow in your footsteps. :)


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by Zac on 06/29/2010

    Just so people know, this is the doctor I am currently seeing http://www.optometrists.org/ontariovt/
    There are sites to help find Vision Therapy Clinics in your area


  • Re:adult lazy eye
    Posted by RevitalVision on 07/28/2010

    There may be more hope for adult amblyopia patients who qualify to improve their vision. This program is available through Optometrists and Ophthalmolgists in the US and around the world.

    The RevitalVision Amblyopia program is the only existing treatment for amblyopia approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is approved for individuals over the age of 9 with best corrected vision of 20/100 or better who have minor strabismus of 8 prism diopters or less.

    The RevitalVision program involves no surgery or drugs and is individualized to every patients visual ability. The patient takes the program on their home computer using applied perceptual learning techniques which improve neural performance. During neural training sessions, a series of visual tasks and repetitive images train the brain and improve visual processing. RevitalVision analyzes performance and continuously adjusts the individually customized training sessions to improve patient vision.

    Amblyopic patients, on average, improved their vision by more than two lines on an eye chart and increased their contrast sensitivity by more than 100% after completing the program. The program is 40 training sessions of 40 minutes each, on average. Once the training sessions are completed, since the program involves neural training, its effects are long lasting.

    RevitalVision scientific research can be found on the website at www.revitalvision.com.

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