People with strabismus might do a double take at times – but don’t be fooled; it’s not a magic trick. Strabismus is a condition where one or both eyes turn in, out, up or down, sometimes appearing misaligned or pointing in different directions.
Even though it may look like their eyes have chosen a simple dance routine, these individuals proceed about their daily lives just like anyone else. Some may experience vision challenges from this eye ballet, while others can adjust with their brain’s help. Behind every pair of wandering eyes is the story waiting to be told and shared.
There are some telltale signs of someone with strabismus. Pay attention to when the person’s eyes drift apart or refuse to play well together. That may indicate they’re not cooperating in terms of focus and direction. Also, watch for squinting or tilting the head at odd angles while focusing on something. That’s their secret weapon to bring their eyes back into sync.
Discover famous celebrities with strabismus and their inspiring stories.
Dannielynn Birkhead
Dannielynn Birkhead, Anna Nicole Smith’s sweet daughter, struggles with strabismus where one eye turns inward. Her dad, Larry Birkhead, supported her, taking her to doctors and trying various things to help. They even made it fun with Dannielynn wearing an eye patch. However, as most parents know, it isn’t easy – she’s a pro at removing that patch!
Larry cautiously considers surgery as a choice. The thought brings up difficult memories, particularly regarding their past losses. Although some people wonder if Anna Nicole’s previous drug use could be related, Larry consults doctors who say the cause of strabismus is tough to determine.
He’s committed to finding the best solution for Dannielynn without rushing, understanding the need to take things gradually regarding their family’s health.
Lilah Roloff
Lilah Roloff, the cute daughter of Tori and Zach Roloff, deals with strabismus, where one eye turns inward. Her mom, Tori, kindly tells about Lilah’s adventures, like wearing glasses and an eye patch for an hour each day to fix the alignment problem. Tori stresses that it’s not too serious, but they watch Lilah closely every three months to ensure her depth perception stays fine.
Tori and Zach Roloff, as parents, honestly talk about the possible need for surgery while showing a mix of emotions and genuine concern for their daughter’s well-being. The audience gets to see Lilah’s changing eyesight and the chance of surgery through a real glimpse into this family’s journey filled with love, strength, and acceptance.
Tori’s earlier Instagram posts mentioned Lilah’s unique crossed-eyed appeal, and recent updates highlight the Roloff family’s dedication to embracing who Lilah is while connecting with others facing similar situations.
Aurora Hembrow
Aurora Hembrow, Amy Hembrow’s precious six-month-old daughter, was recently diagnosed with strabismus, which affects her eye alignment. On Instagram, Amy shared her thoughts about this experience and encouraged other parents to trust their gut regarding their kids’ health.
Although some initially thought Aurora’s eye turn was normal for babies, Amy felt something was off and sought specialist advice early on. This highlights how critical a mother’s instincts are to detecting issues early.
After giving an emotional update on her daughter’s progress, Amy talked about ongoing efforts to improve Aurora’s sight. Aurora wears specially designed glasses. Besides their social media presence and businesses, the Hembrow family—Amy, Tammy, and Emilee—face parenting challenges with grace.
Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart is a former USC quarterback. He opens up about his journey, notably his struggle with strabismus and childhood bullying.
Born with a lazy eye due to strabismus, Leinart navigated a period of physical awkwardness and battled weight issues during his formative years. The challenges were compounded by instances of bullying at school, leaving emotional memories of tears and hurtful remarks.
Looking back on his past, Leinart shares a heartfelt message with those who experience bullying. He urges them to embrace their authenticity and focus on the promising future. Despite adversity, he emphasizes resilience and self-acceptance. Leinart’s triumph extends beyond football accolades. He currently serves as a studio analyst for FOX Sports. He enjoys a fulfilling married life with actress Josie Loren, who is on the verge of completing law school.
Hannah Hampton
At 21 years old, Hannah Hampton is a goalkeeper for Aston Villa and the England Lionesses. She courageously shares her story of overcoming significant sight issues that threatened her dream of a football career. Hampton was born with a severe squint causing crossed eyes and underwent three surgeries as a young child, but still faced difficulties.
She also has trouble with depth perception, which makes pouring a drink into a glass challenging. At 12 years old, she was advised against pursuing her ambition of becoming an English goalkeeper. Hampton defied the odds and joined the main squad in February 2020.
Hampton endured tough experiences on the field but kept pushing on. She considers the potential for another surgery that might enhance her eye appearance while affecting her vision. Hesitant to undergo an operation without significantly improving her eyesight, she stays committed to playing. Hampton now acts as an ambassador for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, aiming to encourage those experiencing similar obstacles.
Leonardo da Vinci
In his sculptures, oil paintings, and drawings, Leonardo da Vinci struggled with a squint, a condition known as strabismus, where one or both eyes turn outward.
This unique perspective, affecting only about one in 200 people, could have been the key to da Vinci’s ability to capture three-dimensional scenes on a flat canvas, thanks to what’s known as stereo-blindness – a lack of depth perception resulting from his eyes’ misalignment.
Visual neuroscientist Professor Christopher Tyler delved into the challenge of uncovering da Vinci’s condition, considering the limited surviving images of the artist. He proposed that da Vinci’s intermittent tendency for an outward turn of the eye might have enhanced his monocular vision-switching capability.
