Have fun with strabismus!

These pages are meant to be mostly entertaining - strabismology may not be generally perceived as an entertaining science, but it is!
Strabismus does not necessarily cause problems. Most of the time it doesn't. It is a fascinating subject to study, however. Everything on these pages is presented as is, without guarantees, not meant to solve any problems, and should not be taken as medical advice. I have never received any medical education, and although most information has been taken from professional sources, there can always be inaccuracies or errors.

To quote von Noorden, taken out of context a bit, but nevertheless quite meaningful: "There is little doubt that many patients who have a fixation about their eyes do exaggerate their suffering, have a fear of blindness, or crave attention; but the ophthalmologist is quite wrong to attribute all asthenopic symptoms to neurosis [...] A neurotic patient is essentially a perfectionist who knows that the second image should not be there, that it is wrong, that it is a flaw. The continual search for that second image reinforces the patients' disturbance. Non-neurotic people acknowledge the presence of two images, but take it in stride. They have learned to distinguish the double image from the "real" image, act accordingly, and by disregarding it and not allowing it to disturb them, learn how to live with it" (From: book reference von Noorden.) And, to quote M.H. Gobin: "Obsession of the patient often maintains the diplopia. The patient pays attention to the handicap and is very well documented on the subject. Being afraid of amblyopia, an attempt is made to put the two images together to obtain binocular vision. This should not surprise us, for such patients have been confronted with their squint since their earliest memories." (Italics are mine. From: book reference Gobin.)

It looks like educating yourself about your problem can make the problem worse. The information I present here is NOT intended to replace consulting a qualified doctor, and you read it at your own risk. I don't mean to awaken an obsession or render you neurotic. The information provided is solely for your education and enrichment. It should not be relied upon for personal diagnosis, treatment, or any other medical purpose. You may not redistribute any content from this website without this disclaimer. So - if you feel you can take things in stride - read on. If in doubt, consult a doctor.

Enjoy!