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Will I Eventually Go Blind?

Posted on Mon, 1 Jul 2024

Question: I was born with a squint, but with age I am told, this got a lot worse. Powered lenses help but they dont solve the problem. My eyes feel a lot of pressure when walking outdoors so I look like a person walking with eyes closed. It is a handicap to reading lots on a computer. Well in mid-2022 I was seen by an eye doctor who diagnosed alternating exotropla. They just sent me away after the eye test and after six months I got seen at the hospital. They said they need to operate the squint. They said they would not do one eye at a time. They said after the operation I would suffer from double vision (which I have never had) and that most people who have this operation lose this double vision after some time. Also said my optic nerve is normal. But they said in case this problem is not a squint, but something coming from inside my brain, then the operation would not correct the squint. They required clearance from the neurologist. At this point in time, I had been admitted into a neurology ward. However this did not work as no tests were conducted. As you have not met me please suggest if you know alternative treatments or ways of dealing with my problem or how you would have done it if I were your patient. Do you go along with the brain theory? The specs shop girls suggested buying eye moisturiser and it is available across the counter. This soothes my eyes after application for a short while. My doctor said he will write to the neurologist as my eyes are giving hell. Will i eventually go blind?

Answered by Dr. Harshita (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No you will not eventually go blind

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for your question. Sometimes squint can be due to neurological issues so that has to be taken into account for . If that is cleared rhen we can go ahead with the surgery and surgery does have good results. Even if it done in stages it doesnt matter results will be good .Dont worry go ahead with it . Hope everything turns out fine . Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. LAKSHMI

Follow up: Dr. Harshita (7 hours later)

Thanks for advice and reassurance I am not going blind.. When you said "in stages" do you mean they can operate one eye at a time? What is your opinion about them saying I will have double vision after the op, which will go away in most cases? Is risk of permanent double vision small then? Can I request to please do one eue at time? What is the predicament of someone with double vision in bot eyes? Is this almost as bad as blindness? Can I a read, or walk alone on the street. I see you are in agreement with neurological issues being cleared up before the op. At the risk of being irksome, also as you are not a neurologist, what neurological conditions specifically can induce squint or whatever I have-great eye strain - yes they said it is a squint? Is Alternating exotropia a brain defect?Many thanks

Answered by Dr. Harshita (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It depends on surgeon to surgeon

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for the follow up . Some surgeons do squint surgery one step at a time some do it at once . Risl of double vision is there but in my expierence it does get better with time . Its not as bad as blindness. All the nerves come from brain so in diabetes , hypertension, old trauma, any brain lesion the nerves may get damaged . Nerves peovide signals for movement of the eyes so in case of neurological damage we can have squint depending on the nerve involved . Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr.