Ever wondered why someone might appear to be looking in two different directions at once? This is a condition known as strabismus, more commonly referred to as crossed eyes.
Crossed eyes are a vision condition where both eyes don’t point at the same object simultaneously. The condition not only affects the physical appearance of the eyes but also has many implications for one’s self-confidence.
‘I avoid eye contact’
Born with crossed eyes, Oratile Baloyi from Pretoria started realising she was different in the early stages of school. She explains how this made her constantly cry while looking at herself in the mirror, trying to straighten her vision but failing repeatedly.
“Strabismus has not only affected my vision but my life as a whole; it has limited me so much, and it still is even today. I believe that I am a very bright student and have always been; however, due to my cosmetic appearance, I became limited. I pull back in all sorts of situations, afraid of people noticing how I look.
Oratile Baloyi
“I avoid conversations because eye contact is important, and presentations or public speaking are out of the question because of my lack of confidence. It affects my social life every day. I just prefer to stay indoors rather than socialise. That way, I can be myself without having to worry about what people think when they look at me.”
“I am also very short-sighted as well. I can’t see any writing that is a meter away; when it comes to other larger objects, I just have unclear vision. My left eye is as good as blind, and I only depend on my right to see things.”
Baloyi adds that although she hasn’t fully learned to be confident, she has rather learned to accept what is beyond her control.
“As soon as I grew older and wiser, I realised that crying in the mirror and asking God to fix my eyes wouldn’t change my condition, so I decided to embrace my eyes, accept fate, and live my life to the best of my ability. It is my everyday dream to correct my vision. As much as I am working this hard for a brighter future, I am also doing it to afford strabismus surgery.”
Nqobile Khumalo from Newcastle in KZN says she noticed from a young age that she has crossed eyes due to frequent doctor visits with her grandmother because she couldn’t open her eyes properly at times.
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‘Kids bullied me’
“At a young age, back in primary school, having crossed eyes used to affect my confidence a lot because other kids would bully me, calling me names. I’ve learned to become very confident with it. My dad is the reason because he explained to me that I’m different and I should be proud of who I am and my unique eyes, making me learn to love them, and it worked. Although it doesn’t affect my vision, I can’t really see from far.”
“I have thought of fixing it, and my dad said he doesn’t mind paying for me to do it, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure if that’s really what I wanted to do. The reason is that my eyes are what make me different, and whenever I’m around, I stand out.”
Nqobile Khumalo
According to Malvin Matshume, an optometrist from Pretoria, strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, is a vision disorder where the eyes don’t align properly. This means they point in different directions instead of focusing on the same object at once.
“Crossed eyes, also known as strabismus, is a visual disorder wherein the normal alignment of the eyes is affected, causing them to point in different directions.”
“It can be caused by various things, such as refractive error, neuromuscular (nerves and muscles) anomalies of ocular movements, and binocular fusion abnormalities. If left untreated, strabismus can sometimes cause multiple visual impairments or affect an individual’s self-esteem.”
Fortunately, Matshume says, there are effective treatments available for strabismus, and the best treatment depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition.
“Correction depends on the type of strabismus. Some are corrected through refractive error correction, orthoptic exercise, patching, topical medications, and surgery.”
For those who may not be able to afford these treatment methods, refractive error correction and prisms are affordable means, he suggests.
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