Q&A: Straight talk about crooked eyes

Q: I am tired of being embarrassed about my one eye that’s misaligned. I’m 28, just moved to a new city for a new job, and I know it doesn’t make a great first impression. Sometimes people assume I’m stupid, and trying to meet women is really frustrating and uncomfortable. What can I do? – Alton G., Little Rock, Ark.

A: Strabismus (that’s the medical term for eyes that don’t align properly) happens when eye muscles don’t work together, because of faulty development of the nerve pathway from one eye to the brain. When the condition is treated early in life (it’s the most common cause of vision problems in children), chances are good that therapy will do the trick and surgery may not be necessary.