What kind of bifocals do you recommend?

[odeon]

So your strabismus affects you most when looking up or down?

More when looking down. It's called the "A syndrome".

Mine is in the shape of a V. My ophthalmologist called it "AV Syndrome". Isn't that interesting how you are A and I am V, heh.

It is funny, yes.

That A is what they have been trying to fix, among other things. Apparently one of the lateral muscles in my left eye is halfway torn off.

 Is that as painful as it sounds?  And how did it happen? 

It's not painful--usually--but it explains some of the problems with eye movement I've been experiencing in later years. I have limited eye mobility in that direction (up and to the right).

The doc didn't explain how it happened but said it's been known to happen with people who have been operated multiple times.

 Is that muscle likely to heal back together on its own? 

Not fully, no. It requires surgery. And now that I think about it, I need to call them to see when they plan to do it.

 Is there anything they can do this time to prevent another tear from happening later? 

Yes, by removing scar tissue and such, they can give back some of the movement and avoid straining muscles unnecessarily.

["couldbecousin"]

So your strabismus affects you most when looking up or down?

More when looking down. It's called the "A syndrome".

Mine is in the shape of a V. My ophthalmologist called it "AV Syndrome". Isn't that interesting how you are A and I am V, heh.

It is funny, yes.

That A is what they have been trying to fix, among other things. Apparently one of the lateral muscles in my left eye is halfway torn off.

 Is that as painful as it sounds?  And how did it happen? 

It's not painful--usually--but it explains some of the problems with eye movement I've been experiencing in later years. I have limited eye mobility in that direction (up and to the right).

The doc didn't explain how it happened but said it's been known to happen with people who have been operated multiple times.

 Is that muscle likely to heal back together on its own? 

Not fully, no. It requires surgery. And now that I think about it, I need to call them to see when they plan to do it.

 Is there anything they can do this time to prevent another tear from happening later? 

Yes, by removing scar tissue and such, they can give back some of the movement and avoid straining muscles unnecessarily.

 I hope it works!  How many eye surgeries have you had? 

[odeon]

I think I've had six now.

[renaeden]

It's not painful--usually--but it explains some of the problems with eye movement I've been experiencing in later years. I have limited eye mobility in that direction (up and to the right).

The doc didn't explain how it happened but said it's been known to happen with people who have been operated multiple times.

We have to get together to compare our eye movement, heh. I have problems looking to the left. My left eye just doesn't want to move far. I think I have full movement in my right eye.

And I have had six operations too. Three on each eye. The last one I remember was when I was five. My mum was told I couldn't have any more operations because of scar tissue but I guess they can get around that now. The last time I saw an ophthalmologist was when I was 18 and that was just a basic check-up.

["couldbecousin"]

 Six operations apiece, wow, all because of strabismus? 

[odeon]

It's not painful--usually--but it explains some of the problems with eye movement I've been experiencing in later years. I have limited eye mobility in that direction (up and to the right).

The doc didn't explain how it happened but said it's been known to happen with people who have been operated multiple times.

We have to get together to compare our eye movement, heh. I have problems looking to the left. My left eye just doesn't want to move far. I think I have full movement in my right eye.

And I have had six operations too. Three on each eye. The last one I remember was when I was five.

We must be twins, separated at birth

You haven't had surgery since you were a kid? Lots of things they can do now that they couldn't do then, you know.

[odeon]

Six operations apiece, wow, all because of strabismus? 

Pretty cool, eh?

[renaeden]

Well in my case they stuffed it up the first time. They moved both eyes out too far. So I had to have more operations to realign them and they never got it right.

You haven't had surgery since you were a kid? Lots of things they can do now that they couldn't do then, you know.

Yeah, I never realised that until you posted about getting yours fixed. I am still wary about it though. I remember your recovery was quite long and painful. Plus the cost, etc. And whether what I have is good enough or will it get worse? I don't know.

[odeon]

I was among the first to have strabismus surgery where I lived in Finland, I think. My mum tells me that for the two first operations we had to travel far because only two or three hospitals offered the type of surgery.

[renaeden]

When was that? I think my first surgery was in 1979 and it was in the city's private hospital.

[odeon]

I think 1967 or 1968.

[renaeden]

Wow just over 10 years before me. Did you have the surgery as a baby? Not trying to pick your age, just wondering at what age they decided surgery would be an option for you. I think that type of surgery was kind of new here in Australia (definitely to the isolated part where I am) when I had it. May explain why it didn't go so well.

[odeon]

I think I was around three years old, the first time. The second came soon after that.

And I'm 46, btw. I'll be 47 in the beginning of next year.

["couldbecousin"]

I think I was around three years old, the first time. The second came soon after that.

And I'm 46, btw. I'll be 47 in the beginning of next year.

 Renaeden was totally trying to figure out your age. 

[renaeden]

I wasn't! Odeon is younger than I thought he was.

I think I was 18 months old when I first had surgery. I think they were hoping to fix it early so I didn't develop amblyopia - which I did anyway.