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Vertical Heterophoria

Hello!
I am a 21-year-old guy from the Philippines.
For more than four years now, I've been noticing my right eye to a little higher than the left. Aside from it lowers my self-confidence, I blame it for my daily struggles like feeling tired all the time, feeling sleepy, eye pain, etc. because it seems that my two eyes don't focus perfectly on one object at the same time. There were times before when I would spontaneously close my one eye while reading so I would avoid feeling like a bit dizzy.
When I started working as a call center agent which stays at the front of the computer for 8 hours everyday and usually on a graveyard shift, the symptoms became worse. I started experiencing frequent headaches, dizziness, disorientation, and the eye fatigue has gone up to a very high level! It is really stifling me in handling my job and having a good normal life(sad).
I'd been to a lot of doctors and the ophthalmologists I first visited diagnosed it to be computer vision syndrome. So they recommended certain eye drops but after using it for more than one month, no improvement. They checked if I have strabismus because I told them I notice my eyes are slightly misaligned but they detected none. They told me to visit an ENT doctor because of my dizziness.
I went to another clinic, and the ophthalmologist there said that this is just migraine and could be controlled by regular medication. That didn't convince me... eye fatigue all throughout the day is migraine?
Then sometime ago I researched all the symptoms online and I answered a questionnaire on a certain website. It asked me how frequent and severe I feel those symptoms. I gave some personal info right after the test, including my contact number, and someone from Michigan called me, asked me a few more questions, and told me that I am a candidate for evaluation for Vertical Heterophoria.
2 Responses
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2078052 tn?1331933100
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
A Phoria is not an overt misalignment; it is a misalignment detected when fusion is interrupted, as by covering one eye at a time.  If the eye is obviously out of alignment, this is a tropia, or a manifest deviation.  You need to see a pediatric ophthalmologist; they specialize in eye muscle misalignment disorders of adults as well as children.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I exhibit almost all the symptoms of vertical heterophoria, especially the slight misalignment of the eyes and frequent tilting of head to one side. I also experience back and neck discomfort and anxiety, frequently touching my face whenever talking to someone who is very close(in terms of distance).
I am having a hard time keeping my work because of this, whether this is really VH or anything else.
The problem is, the person who called me told me that I need to fly to Michigan for them to evaluate me. But the fare going to US is already equivalent to my half-year salary, plus the expenses for the check-up and glasses.
I feel urged to go there ASAP because I've been struggling for a very long time now, and I feel like my life is being stolen because I cannot live like normal because of this. I can't enjoy much. Most of my spare time is spent to rest and sleep. My confidence is also affected because of how my eyes look like.
What should I do? At least to alleviate the symptoms. The one who called me advised to try covering my one eye, that made a very little difference but not much, and of course I cannot cover my eye all the time especially when doing computer work. Changing job is not an option for me.
And what should I do to go to USA? Please don't get me wrong, I am not asking for money. But what can I do to have all the money I need to go there when I am even the one who supports myself and my family, and that is already a challenge for me.
Please help. Your replies will be greatly valued. I am very depressed right now typing this. :(
Helpful - 0

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