Any adults with squint/strabismus + suppressed vision?

[happycampers2021]

Bit of background info: I'm mid 30s, have had strabismus all my life. Had an operation to correct it when I was young which didn't work. But my question is about my vision and please bear with me as it's quite hard to explain.

I have always been told that I suppress the vision out of my bad (left) eye, that's always worked for me, no issues etc. It now seems that suddenly my left eye has 'switched on' and my brain is struggling to process what I am seeing. It's only in certain situations - usually when I am talking to someone.

For example, if I am talking to someone and looking at them straight on I can see them. But I then sometimes see something behind/next to them which comes into focus and overpowers my brain seeing them - it's really disorientating. It feels like my good eye, the one that is straight, is focussed on their face and my bad eye, which turns inwards, is pointed towards something to the side of them, and the image from that eye is now overpowering what I am actually looking at. The images can kind of 'flash' and I'm seeing more than one thing at once, so I have to look away.

I say this has 'suddenly' happened - I'm sure I first noticed this slightly about 10 years ago and it's gradually got worse. It's now got to the point that I'm struggling to make eye contact with people during conversations and I get anxious about being in group situations because my brain can't focus on just whoever I'm talking to.

It gets worse if I'd had a lot of screen time. As far as I'm aware my inward turn hasn't got any worse - it's just like the eye has just turned on.

Does anyone have any experience of this or any advice? I do have an appointment at Moorfields booked but just wondered if anyone else has experienced anything similar.

I have full suppression of vision in my right eye. Both eyes work but not
together!

I found if my eyes get very tired then I get some breakthrough and double vision. It's fixed by a night's sleep.

Please ask for a referral to an Orthoptist it sounds like you have come out. Of your suppression area and may need some treatment

A bit different, but I have an unstable squint which is corrected with prisms in my glasses, though I'm not sure how much my left eye is doing most of the time - its like my right eye is very much the dominant visual signal. If I'm tired or have been focussing a lot on screens/books I'll get double vision though.
To me, it sounds like you are getting on/off processing - and of course as your eye is convergent so you'll get that distracting double vision effect.
Hopefully Moorfields will have some suggestions for you

Have you had your sight tested in the meantime? I was born cross eyed, also had an op which largely worked (as a child) but now as I approach 50, my eyes are going back cross eyed. As my less cross eyed (dominant) eye's sight got worse, the other eye came back in because its sight was clearer if that makes sense.

The side effect for me is terrible travel sickness. I can only drive an hour with my glasses on before having to stop otherwise I vomit! It's so frustrating so will be interested to hear what they say to you!

Thank you all so much for your replies - I feel so comforted just to know that other people understand what I'm talking about!

I initially got referred to Moorfields to discuss options for straightening my eye, however I really now just want to discuss this problem and look how to resolve it - do you think I should call them to tell in advance or rebook a different appointment, or will it be okay? I have waited nearly a year for the appointment so I don't want to cancel it but I'm just worried.

Just wondering if you're still experiencing this OP?