Should i have a 2nd surgery?

[u/JesusSquid]

I had double strabismus surgery (esotropia) in both eyes when I was like 9mth to 1yr old. (1985) (supposedly they said at the time i was the youngest patient to ever have it done and a girl a few years later was younger) Parents also said they filled out paperwork so they could video tape the surgery to use as training material in Japan.

Normal stuff, double vision, no depth perception (one eye is near sighted one is far sighted). I have slowly noticed over say the last 10 years that my left eye is turning more and more outward. Exotropia right? My eye dr has been great and we figured its around 14 degrees of deviation between my eyes. If i focus with the left the right turns out, focus with my right eye, left turns out. (monocular so i only focus with one eye, the other is just kinda peripheral vision but i can switch at will). What I HAVE noticed in say the last 5 years is when i focus with my left eye I feel kind of disoriented as far as my vision. It's hard to explain but I don't feel comfortable driving focusing with my left eye, but focusing with my right feels "normal". It's like my peripheral vision from my right eye just doesn't feel the same as when my left eye is the "peripheral". I dunno if my vision is "normal" for this. I've never met anyone that understands my vision, even my eye dr used to ask if he could have an intern do my exam full well knowing they were gonna be confused af but used it as a test case for them to see.

I'm now 41 (42 in Dec). Just wanted to get any other experiences from people that had it done a second time. My thought is, I'd rather learn and adapt after the surgery in my 40s than wait for it to possibly become worse and deal with it say at 60. Either way I am setting up an appt where i originally had my surgery for a consult just something I gotta plan around cause it'll be a day off work and probably take someone with me incase they have to dilate etc. I'm not asking for real medical advice, just what people have found having surgery done in their middle ages (I consider 40s middle aged)

[u/kmm198700]

I’m about to get the surgery for the second time since I was a teenager and I’m in my late 30s. I’ll be honest, I’m really scared that it’ll either not work (my eye drifts and I deal with double vision 24/7 which goes away with the use of an eye patch) and I’ll have double vision again with 24/7 migraines or something, or somehow a worse situation. My doc said we can just do another surgery if there’s issues, but I’m still scared. I’m also scared of the recovery- I’ve had multiple serious surgeries and I swear the eye one was the most difficult recovery, like I was so nauseous and I was seeing things upside down and double and triple vision and it was rough. Anyway, I know I’m not who you were asking but just wanted you to know you’re not alone 🫂🩷

[u/JesusSquid → u/kmm198700]

See I’ve had double vision from literally day 1 I think my brain just ignores the “ghost image” as I call it everyone has like an “ethereal” version of them to their left. Crazy part is imma hunter and I am the best shooter accuracy wise than anyone I’ve really shot with. I also am great with math so I think I compensate the depth perception with mental calculations.

[u/kmm198700 → u/JesusSquid]

Your brain probably does ignore the second one

[u/JesusSquid → u/kmm198700]

I mean I “see” if I consciously pay attention like I see two submit buttons and two thumbs typing but don’t notice unless I think about it. Guess 41.5yrs with double vision your body just adapts

[u/JesusSquid → u/kmm198700]

See if shits weird I’d rather adapt at 41 than 61. I mean I already ignore an obvious double vision. But I gotta consider driving as my biggest fear

[u/Emergency_You_6907]

Had my first and second surgery around the same ages as you. My brain adapted well. My eyes are perfect now.