What Do Cross Eyed People See? Beyond the Misconceptions 😵

What Do Cross Eyed People See? Beyond the Misconceptions 😵

Cross eyed, or crossed eyes, is a term often used to refer to strabismus, but how much do we really understand about what it means? More importantly, what do cross eyed people see? Beyond the appearance of misaligned eyes, there are many misconceptions surrounding the condition of strabismus. This article, written by a team of individuals who have been dealing with strabismus since birth, aims to debunk those myths and shed light on the diverse visual experiences of individuals living with this condition.

Debunking the Myths: How Cross-Eyed Vision Isn’t

Myth #1: Everyone Sees Double

One of the most common misconceptions about strabismus is that everyone who has it sees double all the time. While double vision (diplopia) can be a symptom of strabismus, it's not the universal experience. Many people with strabismus develop a remarkable adaptation called suppression. In simple terms, their brain learns to ignore the image coming from one of the eyes. This prevents double vision and allows them to function relatively normally. It's as if their brain chooses one eye to be the "dominant" eye and tunes out the other ends up being the famous "lazy eye".

Myth #2: They Always See Blurry

Another myth is that everyone with strabismus has blurry vision. While some individuals with strabismus might experience blurred vision, particularly if they also have a refractive error like nearsightedness or astigmatism, it's not a given. Many people with strabismus have clear vision in their dominant eye. The blurriness is more often related to uncorrected refractive errors, which can occur in people with or without strabismus.

Beyond “Cross-Eyed”:

The term "cross-eyed" typically refers to esotropia, a type of strabismus where one eye turns inwards towards the nose. However, there are other forms of strabismus, including exotropia (eye turns outwards) also called "walleyed", hypertropia (eye turns upwards), and hypotropia (eye turns downwards). Each of these can affect vision differently. It's important to remember that "cross-eyed" is a broad term, and each person's visual experience is unique depending on the type and severity of their strabismus.

The Lived Experience: What People with Strabismus Do See

The Role of Suppression:

Suppression is a fascinating example of the brain's adaptability. When the eyes are misaligned, the brain receives two different images that can't fuse together. To avoid the confusion of double vision, the brain often suppresses, or ignores, the image from one eye. This usually happens subconsciously. The suppressed eye's information is essentially filtered out, allowing the person to see a single image, although it might not be the same as someone with perfectly aligned eyes.

Visual Challenges and Adaptations:

Even with suppression, strabismus can present visual challenges. One common issue is difficulty with depth perception. Because the brain isn't receiving and processing information from both eyes in the usual way, binocular cues are weak or even absent and judging distances using only monocular cues can be tricky. Peripheral vision might also be affected, and some individuals might experience visual confusion or a sense of disorientation.

Growing up, I always wanted to enjoy a 3D movie at the cinema. However, due to my exotropic strabismus and lazy eye, it was an impossible mission. Experiences like these motivated me to create an innovative visual therapy available anywhere in the world, for people like me who have been deprived of binocular vision for years.
- Mark Boyce, creator of Equal-Eyes VR Vision Therapy

Beyond the Visual:

In our own experience, the hardest part of strabismus goes beyond the visual, and it's related to the aesthetic appearance. Living with misaligned eyes have huge social and emotional implications. Children might be self-conscious about their appearance and experience teasing. Adults might face challenges in social situations or feel uncomfortable making eye contact. It’s important to acknowledge these non-visual aspects of living with strabismus.

Understanding and Supporting Individuals with Strabismus

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for strabismus, especially in children. Treatment options can include glasses to correct refractive errors, vision therapy to strengthen eye muscles and improve coordination, and in some cases, surgery to help realign the eyes.

Equal-Eyes and Vision Therapy:

A new hope for adult strabismus and lazy eye powered by VR.

Strabismus, Amblyopia Virtual Reality Solution by AvalonwebVR
Equal-Eyes

Whether it's for your beautiful child or you who have been dealing with strabismus in life you can benefit from the latest at-home virtual reality Vision Therapy solution. Visual therapy is the treatment that has demonstrated the best results for adult lazy eye. Amblyopia is a binocular dysfunction, so you will surely need vision therapy to really solve the problem, start using both of your eyes, and achieve 3D perception. At AvalonWeb.com.au, we are proud to offer Equal-Eyes, our innovative VR vision therapy for adult lazy eye and binocular vision dysfunctions. This program provides an engaging platform for patients to improve their visual skills and overcome challenges associated with amblyopia and strabismus.

More Info about Equal-Eyes

For some individuals with strabismus, innovative approaches like Equal-Eyes VR vision therapy can provide targeted exercises and support to improve visual skills and coordination.

Promoting Understanding and Inclusion:

The best way to understand what someone with strabismus sees is to listen to their experiences. By dispelling myths and fostering empathy, we can create a more inclusive and understanding environment for individuals with strabismus.

Conclusion

Understanding strabismus, or crossed eyes, goes beyond just recognizing misaligned eyes. It's important to debunk common myths and appreciate the diverse visual experiences of individuals with this condition. While some people may experience double or blurry vision, others adapt through suppression. Challenges with depth perception, social implications, and the need for early diagnosis and treatment are crucial aspects to consider. Innovative solutions like Equal-Eyes VR vision therapy offer hope for those seeking to improve their visual skills and coordination. By promoting understanding and inclusion, we can support individuals living with strabismus and foster a more empathetic society.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translate »