Success Stories - Alternating esotropia, double vision, strabismus surgery and Vision Therapy

RE: Alternating Esotropia #1
by Susan R. Barry, Ph.D., Chair, Neuroscience and Behavior, Mount Holyoke College
In 2002, I started Vision Therapy. I was diagnosed with strabismus (alternating esotropia) as an infant and underwent three surgeries at ages 2, 3, and 7 in years (1956, 1957, and 1961). I maintained good vision in both eyes but never used my eyes together until I did Vision Therapy in 2002.

At that time, I went to see a developmental optometrist in Massachusetts. I complained to her that the world appeared to shimmer at a distance. She explained that the shimering was due to binocular rivalry [the rivalry between the two eyes which did not work together]. She also discovered that my left eye saw five prism diopters above my right eye [hypertropia]. She placed a prism in my right eyeglass lens to correct this vertical misalignment. She then started me on Vision Therapy eye teaming exercises.

After only two therapy sessions, the world began to "pop out." It is impossible to describe how exciting this was. For the first time, at age 48, I saw the space between leaves and branches on trees. Light fixtures appeared to float, sink faucets stuck way out into space. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky in a beautiful three-dimensional dance.

RE: Alternating Esotropia
by Kevin Brocker

My name is Kevin Brocker, and I recently stumbled upon Rachel Cooper's story while playing on the computer. I was amazed at how similar her story is to my own. Unfortunately, however, I was unaware of Vision Therapy and had eye surgery. As I now know (but did not understand until my late twenties/early thirties), I have strabismus; more specifically alternating esotropia.

When I was a child, my parents did take me to an eye doctor. He examined me and said that my eye condition was not uncommon and that I would grow out of it. From that time on, I went about my business of being a kid, growing up, playing and going to school. I never thought for a moment that there was anything wrong with me. I played little league, went to school, rode my bike and hung out with my friends after school. Looking back though, I can see how I struggled with just about everything. Reading the blackboard at school, reading books and playing different sports with my friends were things that were always difficult.

At some point, perhaps at the age of 9 or 10 an eye doctor prescribed a pair of glasses for me. I wore them around for a while, but I don't remember them helping much. As a kid it was kinda cool to have glasses (at least I thought so) -- but it wasn't long before I lost them and didn't seem to mind at all.

I was becoming more independent and I realized that I was squinting to see the blackboard (larger classrooms, etc. . . . ), so I made my own appointment to see an eye doctor off campus. This is an appointment that sticks in my mind. I tried to explain that I was not only squinting, but having trouble concentrating and that I felt I was using one eye more than the other. At this point though, I still didn't have a feeling that my eyes were not straight (I was not conscious of any cosmetic problem). The doctor ran around his office and gave me a pair of glasses and said, "just wear these". I could tell something was not right, but hey, I got a pair of glasses . . . and he was the doctor. He never even used the words "lazy eye" or anything.

When I was 29, I went back to school. Being back in school made me confront my eyes again. For the first time, I became aware (consciously), that one of my eyes was not straight. In addition, I now noticed that I could switch from using one eye to the other. This was weird . . . so, this time I thought, I'll go to a "real" eye doctor . . . an ophthalmologist.

Dr. (xxxxx) seemed like a great doctor. He performed various tests that I had never been exposed to before. He spoke about fusion, and defined my eye problem as alternating esotropia . . . I was amazed someone actually told me what was wrong with my eyes!!!!!! I was also told that I was lucky, because I was a unique case, and that, with surgery, I had the potential for fusion. I was quite excited and filled with a new hope. On May 8, 1992, I had eye surgery at St. Francis Hospital, in Poughkeepsie, New York.

After the surgery, I must have had double vision for a week or more. Things seemed to gradually get worse. The ophthalmologist began fitting me with various prisms, etc. . . . and I became increasingly uncomfortable wearing glasses. My right eye, that he operated on, turned back in, and my glasses were too strong and killed my eyes. Also, though I could switch between my two eyes before the surgery, it was not cosmetically noticeable. Now, however, both eyes switched or turned noticeably and I seemed to lose the dominance of my left eye. To make matters worse, I became increasingly monocular and suffered from severe eye pain. I would put my glasses on and within a short time I would take them off. Driving also became more difficult.

I did not know where to go. Who could help me now???? I went from optometrist to optometrist, to ophthalmologist to ophthalmologist -- no one ever mentioned eye therapy. No one. The doctors would basically just give me a new prescription and write up a bill. I went to the (xxxxx) Medical Center and visited a Dr. (xxxxx). He wrote up a nice report but that was about it. An orthoptist in the same office, however, took pity on me and gave me the address of a specialist at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. I traveled down to the city and she did a fine job asking me questions and examining my eyes -- but, again, I was handed a new prescription.

Somehow my mother heard about an educational Eye Institute. I was always complaining, so, she had been keeping an ear out for someone who could possibly help me. A behavioral optometrist was mentioned in the letter from this association, so I gave him a call. This doctor is the only doctor that didn't mind seeing me again. Eventually, I began Vision Therapy in his office (a 2 hour drive from my home) once a week. I was skeptical about his approach to my eyes (Vision Therapy), however, I have been making weekly visits and am making real progress. My case appears to be severe, but I am thankful that I now have a place to go. This behavioral optometrist has done more for me in 6 months than any other eye doctor.

Vision Therapy Success Stories