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What Causes Cross-eyed Feeling And Dizziness?
Question: I've been having these episodes where my head swims and my eyes feel crossed. However, my wife has looked at my eyes during these episodes and says my eyes are NOT crossed. The episodes have been happening more frequently (once or twice a day lately). The eye crossing sensation tapers off over a few minutes. If I close my eyes the swimming feeling is greatly reduced. If I cover one eye during the height of an episode the eye crossing sensation stops. The head swimming sensation remains, however, although it too tapers off over about a half hour. I take no prescription medications whatsoever.
Brief Answer:
Could be related to fatigue of eye muscles.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your symptoms. Since your wife has noted that eyes are not crossed, the problem may be minor.
The most likely cause could be fatigue of eye muscles.
However, we need to exclude a condition called as myasthenia gravis, where the eye muscles may become weak.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Could be related to fatigue of eye muscles.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your symptoms. Since your wife has noted that eyes are not crossed, the problem may be minor.
The most likely cause could be fatigue of eye muscles.
However, we need to exclude a condition called as myasthenia gravis, where the eye muscles may become weak.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Clearly my brain is telling me my eyes are crossed. Yet, as observed by my wife, my eyes are not crossed. I can understand how fatigued or spasming eye muscles could cause crossed eyes, but my eyes are not crossed. Logic would then seem to dictate that the muscles of my eyes are not at work in the creation of this symptom/perception. What am I not understanding about your diagnosis? Please tell me how my eyes can seems crossed to me, but not to others?
Brief Answer:
Details are below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I am sorry my reply was not clear to you.
Eye movements are controlled by brain, to be precise, the brain stem (mid brain and pons). Any problem in the mid brain or pons would cause eyes to be crossed, which would be noted by you (in the mirror) as well as others such as your wife. In addition, it would always lead to diplopia (double vision). Also, crossed eyes in this case would be constant and not come intermittently.
Intermittent crossed eyes (as in your case) can only occur due to problems in muscles that control the eye movements/eye position or neuro-muscular junction (the junction between the nerve and muscle). The fact that you notice it (which is not noted by your wife) is because of minor degree of crossed eyes.
The causes are the same as I discussed above. In cases of fatigue, proper rest to eyes (from computer, phone, etc) and good sleep would help. If these measures do not help, a neurologist/neuro-ophthalmologist should be consulted.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Details are below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I am sorry my reply was not clear to you.
Eye movements are controlled by brain, to be precise, the brain stem (mid brain and pons). Any problem in the mid brain or pons would cause eyes to be crossed, which would be noted by you (in the mirror) as well as others such as your wife. In addition, it would always lead to diplopia (double vision). Also, crossed eyes in this case would be constant and not come intermittently.
Intermittent crossed eyes (as in your case) can only occur due to problems in muscles that control the eye movements/eye position or neuro-muscular junction (the junction between the nerve and muscle). The fact that you notice it (which is not noted by your wife) is because of minor degree of crossed eyes.
The causes are the same as I discussed above. In cases of fatigue, proper rest to eyes (from computer, phone, etc) and good sleep would help. If these measures do not help, a neurologist/neuro-ophthalmologist should be consulted.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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