Abnormal binocular vision and reading problems

Hi,
I underwent strabismus surgery in my childhood, but doctors didn't
take care of my fusion
and stereopsis development, so I don't have normal binocular vison
almost all my life.
I'm able to "switch" my eyes, and when I look by one of them then the
other deviate
outwards. My doc says that I have an subjective strabismus angle, but
objective angle
is zero. When I look at an more distant object (lets say more than few
meters away) I'm able
to use both eyes, without any unpleasant sensations. But reading and
using computer is a
pain. It had become almost unbearable almost year ago, after I got job
that require sitting in front
of computer screen for 8 hours daily. After few months I started to
feel weird sensations in my
eyes. When I try to read, my right eye tends to deviate outward, and
if i try to use both eyes
then I cant see text clearly and feel that my eyes become somewhat
uncoordinated. I get tired
quickly and sometimes get headaches. Im going to see doctor soon but
Im interested in your
opinions: is this possible to don't have normal binocular vision and
despite that be able to read
without any problems ?
Best Regards

In article
<4a08122b-0c1c-46ef-80f1-(E-Mail Removed)>,
jac-k <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Hi,
> I underwent strabismus surgery in my childhood, but doctors didn't
> take care of my fusion
> and stereopsis development, so I don't have normal binocular vison
> almost all my life.
> I'm able to "switch" my eyes, and when I look by one of them then the
> other deviate
> outwards. My doc says that I have an subjective strabismus angle, but
> objective angle
> is zero. When I look at an more distant object (lets say more than few
> meters away) I'm able
> to use both eyes, without any unpleasant sensations. But reading and
> using computer is a
> pain. It had become almost unbearable almost year ago, after I got job
> that require sitting in front
> of computer screen for 8 hours daily. After few months I started to
> feel weird sensations in my
> eyes. When I try to read, my right eye tends to deviate outward, and
> if i try to use both eyes
> then I cant see text clearly and feel that my eyes become somewhat
> uncoordinated. I get tired
> quickly and sometimes get headaches. Im going to see doctor soon but
> Im interested in your
> opinions: is this possible to don't have normal binocular vision and
> despite that be able to read
> without any problems ?

Neither my wife nor I have normal binocular vision and we see just fine.
I have scar tissue in my right eye, and my wife has severe amblyopia in
her right eye. We can read and use the computer as well as anyone else.
There is a lack of eye-hand coordination, but we are used to that.

I have a simple and cheap solution for you to try. Buy an eye patch.
You can get them at any drug store. If it works, great. If not, toss
it. They are very cheap.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
(E-Mail Removed)

jac-k wrote:

> I underwent strabismus surgery in my childhood, but doctors
> didn't take care of my fusion and stereopsis development, so
> I don't have normal binocular vison almost all my life.

Welcome to The Club. I had the strabismus surgery at age 2,
then again at 25. I'm now 47. Prescription is around -19.0

> Im interested in your opinions: is this possible to don't have
> normal binocular vision and despite that be able to read
> without any problems ?

I've been reading a book every two weeks since I was in highschool
without any problems at all. For the past 20 years, I've also
been on the computer 8 hours per weekday.

About a month ago, I had cataract surgery on my non-dominant eye,
and can stiil read and use the computer for hours without
problems.

I'm an engineer, not a doctor, but my guess is that your dominant eye
is not as dominant as mine. I think the other poster's suggestion of
using an eyepatch mught help.

--
Troy Mercury

On 1/2/09 10:03 AM, in article
4a08122b-0c1c-46ef-80f1-123d33637dad...oglegroups.com, "jac-k"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Hi,
> I underwent strabismus surgery in my childhood, but doctors didn't
> take care of my fusion
> and stereopsis development, so I don't have normal binocular vison
> almost all my life.
> I'm able to "switch" my eyes, and when I look by one of them then the
> other deviate
> outwards. My doc says that I have an subjective strabismus angle, but
> objective angle
> is zero. When I look at an more distant object (lets say more than few
> meters away) I'm able
> to use both eyes, without any unpleasant sensations. But reading and
> using computer is a
> pain. It had become almost unbearable almost year ago, after I got job
> that require sitting in front
> of computer screen for 8 hours daily. After few months I started to
> feel weird sensations in my
> eyes. When I try to read, my right eye tends to deviate outward, and
> if i try to use both eyes
> then I cant see text clearly and feel that my eyes become somewhat
> uncoordinated. I get tired
> quickly and sometimes get headaches. Im going to see doctor soon but
> Im interested in your
> opinions: is this possible to don't have normal binocular vision and
> despite that be able to read
> without any problems ?
> Best Regards


If your subjective and objective angles do not match, then you may have ARC
(abnormal retinal correspondence), where the brain has adapted to an angle,
and has decided to make a part of the retina that is not the "zero" location
(the fovea) the new "zero". This actually does not happen at the level of
the retina, but is a cortical brain adaptation. Not much to do about that.

Most people who have had strabismus do not have normal binocular vision,
which may be the reason they developed strabismus in the first place, due to
abnormal fusion and abnormal binocular vision in the brain.

David Robins, MD
Board certified Ophthalmologist
Pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus subspecialty

Thank you for replies. Frankly speaking I've never fully understand
this subjective and objective angle thing.
I've done some searching for the ARC topic and if I understand
correctly, non-zero subjective angle with zero
objective angle means that altrought my eyeballs appear to be
straight, my "subjective visual perception" is
like they werent, because brain is used to use non corresponding
retina areas. Is this correct ?
Recently Ive noticed that I have diplopia when i look at an small
lighting object in a dark room. Is this is
normal in this circumstances ? (lack of fusion and subjective
strabismus angle) Im not sure if I have it
before or my condition has become worse lately. And my last question
is: is there any pending research
to restore (reconstruct) fusion and stereopsis in adults ? or is this
still far beyond of reach of current medicine...