General Medical Question - Non Urgent - Eye deviating to the right - getting worse.

[Steel Maiden]

I've always had anisometropic amblyopia, bad short-sightedness and astigmatism. However in the last couple of months I've had worsening problems with my left eye (the one with the anisometropic amblyopia).

When I stare into the distance, or use a computer screen, my left eye appears to deviate to the right, so that I see double (my friend has confirmed that my left eye moves in this way by looking at my eye when I stare into the distance). This is getting worse by the week. I do not have blurred vision however.

I am assigned to a very good optometrist however he works in Hove and I live in London.

I am planning drag myself to Hove next month (i.e. after my exams) to see him. Because its getting really bad.

What I am asking is - do you have any idea why this is happening?

[Animad]

There are a number of things but really the main things it could be is that the muscles are weaker on the left or that they are not getting the correct signal down the nerve(s) that they need on the left to supply these muscles and that may cause it but there are also potentially other reasons but this is something you need to see a doctor about. If you start getting any further signs or this continues to deteriorate I would see a doctor ASAP.

[Steel Maiden]

Thanks, I will keep observing my eye.

[Imperfect.Star]

It does sound like strabismus (a squint or lazy eye) but they are usually found in childhood, I'm not sure why you would develop one now. Have you had your eyesight tested recently? If one eye isn't properly corrected it might contribute to this. A few things can affect extraoccular muscles - like thyroid problems and there can be problems with the specific cranial nerves controlling eye movements. I would definitely see a doctor asap.

[Cedrus]

Just speculation Oly, but downside mentioned that it could be related to thyroid problems, maybe you should get the GP to check that out as you often say you are feeling tired despite a good nights sleep.

[Steel Maiden]

Thank you both of you. I had a blood test not that long ago and my thyroid was fine. I know the symptoms of hyper and hypthyroidism and I don't at all fall into hypothyroidism (except for tiredness), but it has been suspected that I might have hyperthyroidism, however the blood test came back in the normal range.

My eye is deviating sometimes while I type this. The deviation is worse when I am tired.

Thank you, I will mention it to my psych when I see her as I don't tend to see my GP much and my psych is a consutant and very intelligent so I'm sure my psych and I will be able to discuss it.

I can't find strabismus on the summary of my GP records, but I know that I did have strabismus at some point in my childhood according to my mum....

But its getting really irritating. So I will get it looked at.

Oh, I just rememberd - an optometrist has mentioned muscle weakness in my left eye (I cannot remember which muscle but he did tell me which eye muscle it was), but he said it was mild and he didn't feel he should investigate any further.

Thanks. I will update when I've found out more.

[shatteredbits]

I don't know if this helps but I have an aunt who's left eye also became lazy in her adult years.
I've known kids who have had lazy eyes. My friend had to wear an eye patch for a bit to strengthen one of his eye muscles.
Unless its very serious it can be fixed. My aunt had an operation for her eyes because they were very terrible so book an appointment as soon as possible!
Hope your eye gets better soon! <3

[Animad]

Well it is strabismus, that is the name of the signs it sounds like you're showing, I just didn't want to put a name in there. It may not say it in your GP notes especially if it's not been noted for a vvvv long time (ie if you had it as a child they wouldn't still be looking now.

Though your psych is a consultant they are consultants in just that, psychiatry in your case. If you ask them about other things, because it's so long since they've done general medical stuff and they've been so focussed then their knowledge on other things goes. As well as that they may say they think it is x but they'd want you to go to someone else to see and I know often (but not always) they send you back to your GP for a referral elsewhere if they feel a referral is neccessay. I'm not saying one bit she's not intelligent, she will be, no doubt about that, but it's just as time goes by they become more focussed and more specialised and therefore know a lot about a very narrow field and not much about the rest of the stuff they once learnt as they no longer need it so it passes them by.

The tiredness may make it worse, yes, or if you're having migraines or similar. Really you do need to get this checked out ASAP to make sur there's nothing serious going on as like I've said and someone above, it could be due to the nerves that supply those muscles (one of 3 cranial nerves that it could be dependent on the direction (there are 12 cranial nn in total but only 3 affect that)) and if there is a problem with these it can show up with these signs and it could be around the nerve or it could be further up in the brain. It may be nothing much but you need to get it checked out.

[Steel Maiden]

Thank you Animad and Shatteredbits. I will contact my ophthalmologist and ask him about it. I agree that it may be strabismus. I remember learning about the cranial nerves in university, and I know how important it would be to check that out, so I will contact him.