Eyes involuntarily “feeling” crossed

[Jillfox]

I’m a 48 year old female in decent health.  In March 2021, I had a series of dizzy spells followed by tingling and numbness in fingers and toes.  In May I had a deep tissue massage and now my eyes feel like they are crossing multiple time a day.  They are not physically crossing, it’s just the feeling.  As a result my eyes feel strained and I have a horrible headache.  I can resolve the feeling by coving or closing one eye and I can see fine and it stops the feeling for a short time. Eye doctor and ENT have given me a clean bill of health.  Currently waiting the results of a MRI
I have an astigmatism and have suffered from mild ocular migraines in the past. My feeling of cross eyed ness is worse with motion and screen time.  I did have COVID in September 2020 and I have not had any vaccines. I’ve read a few post on this site where others have had similar issues.  Did anyone get a resolution?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Deep tissue massage would not cause this. If your eyes were crossing you would see double and the 'eye doctor' would see it.  It is very important that the 'eye doctor' you saw was an Eye MD ophthalmologist, not an optometrist.  If you saw a non-MD optometrist you need to see an ophthalmologist.  If you did see an ophthalmologist you may need to see a neuro-ophthalmologist or a eye muscle ophthalmologist ( also called a strabismologist or pediatric ophthalmologist as most eye muscle problems occur in kids but almost all do adults with eye muscle problems)

[Jillfox]

Thank you for the information. I did see an ophthalmologist who did a very detailed exam.  The ENT felt the next step was  a neurologist but I’m still waiting on an appointment.  Again, please keep in mind my eyes are not physically crossing.  When I have this feeling, I’ve had someone look at my eyes and they appear normal.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes I understand that you don't see double.  The fact that your symptoms are relieved by covering one eye however indicates you may have an eye muscle problem.  If the MRI is normal, then I would go ahead and start working on seeing a neuro-ophthalmologist or strabismologist since it will take some time, often months, to get an appointment. that way you have both neurology and Eye Muscle specialist on the books.   Best of  luck

[Jillfox]

Thank you!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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