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Can a complex form of PTSD cause strabismus?

  • 01-08-2023 8:52pm
    #1
    Justsomeguyyy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 ✭


    I have strabismus since 2018 which is caused by PTSD somehow 


    I first got PTSD back in July 2018 and since PTSD can cause damage to the brain ( some form of brain damage I believe) it caused hypervigilance and strabismus and exotropia ( eyeball turning outwards)

    It also caused a condition called PTVS ( Post traumatic vision syndrome) which is basically strabismus but I have strabismus caused by PTSD

    So I have a complex form of PTSD

    This has made my life a nightmare And made my life very awkward. Let me explain why:

    I can't concentrate, can't focus both eyes on the same object

    One eye is straight and normal but the other eye turns outwards ( exotropia). Sometimes it's my right eye, sometimes my left eye. I can't control my eyes. I don't have control of my eyes. I need to focus really hard to keep my eyes "straight" but this causes eye strain & headaches & fatigue because I have to focus hard when before I didn't have to! It's exhausting

     I have misalignement of the eyes. My eyes are misaligned.

    This has made me so self concious that I don't go out. I stay home. I've lost confidence that I don't want to be around other people because my condition makes me seem" suspicious"

    Let me explain why. Because for example when I'm sitting on the sofa next to my brother, it feels like I have my right eye looking/staring at him and my left eye on the TV. But it's not my fault. I don't do it deliberately. I can't control my eyes. On some days it's fine but others it's all over the place! I have wandering eyes. This has negatively affected my quality of life significantly :/

    It's not only at home, it's when I'm driving, in the waiting room of the doctor's office, at the cinema, etc, my right eye is turned outwards ( undeliberatly) and my left eye is normal. So it's as if I have my right eye on the person sitting next to me and the other eye on the movie screen at the cinema, or my left eye at the person sitting next to me and the other eye at the wall in the doctor's waiting room, or my right eye on the person sitting next to me in the car and the other eye on the road when I'm driving

    Sometimes it's my left eye and somedays it's my right eye. I have no control over this!

    I never had this problem before. This problem only occured after I got PTSD in 2018.

    So having had untreated PTSD & strabismus ( caused by PTSD) for 5 years I need to start treatment ASAP

    My psy prescribed to me effexor but I haven't started it yet. I tried to get an appointment with him but he's on vacation since it's the summer holidays so I have to wait until September and will have to take it for the next 6 months to effectively treat PTSD

    If the effexor doesn't fix this issue of strabismus, I'll have to have surgery to treat this once and for good!

    I needed to share my story and get it off my hest because I've had this condition for 5 years now and it's been going on for way too long

    I too feel isolated and totally misunderstood because nobody around here where I live understands my condition.

    They think I'm crazy or insane or untrustworthy because of my exotropia ( eyes turning outwards) when in reality I'm not

    So having this condition sucks! Because it's made me self conscious and I've lost confidence in myself

    I am relieved to know I'm not the only one with this problem

    Post edited by Justsomeguyyy on


Comments

  • #2
    SamBlumenthal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 ✭SamBlumenthal


    This is one of the common problems in adults. Without surgery, these conditions can be treated by placing prisms in their glasses.



  • #3
    PerArduaAdAstra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1 ✭PerArduaAdAstra


    I empathise with your situation OP. For my two cents, you should see an orthoptist i.e. a specialist in eye misalignment. This is typically done by way of a referral by your GP.

    Several years ago my childhood squint reappeared; well not really appeared in that it's mostly not obvious. However, it caused so much strain that I had to take time off work. Eventually, my orthoptist added a prism to my prescription, which reduced the strain to a large degree. I've been back at work since. Unfortunately, my eyes still feel odd at best, strained at worst, but it's better than nothing.

    I'm told my only other option is surgery. However, as the turn is not significant / noticeable / I'm largely living as before etc., the ophthalmologist - who deals with surgery, as opposed to the orthoptist, who deals with prisms - is not willing to operate. Indeed, I'm told that I'm 95% straight.

    If the squint were to worsen, I'd revisit it, but for the time being, it's the prism.



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