If you are a patient with strabismus, this site has been created for you. You are not alone. Strabismus is often referred to as a squint, but, for reasons that will become clear throughout the progression of this site, I will, in the main, use the term strabismus. Put very simply, strabismus is the medical term for misaligned eyes.
If you are a GP, medical professional or healthcare policymaker, this site might be useful to you, giving you an insight into aspects of life for strabismus patients, so please read on. You are very welcome.
My name is Lucia Wilson, I am a writer and an independent campaigner. I know, from personal experience, what it is to suffer with strabismus.
Strabismus is a poorly understood eye condition, and this is partly why there is a lot of confusion around it. I think the confusion has been caused by a number of factors and I am not pointing the finger at any organisation or institution – I am much more interested in resolving this and helping to make things better in the future. The confusion around strabismus has, in my view, led to a lack of care, especially in relation to the psycho-social impact. There was no site like the one we are creating here when I had my own distressing experience with strabismus; it’s important to change that going forward. Conversations with other strabismus sufferers have confirmed that there is a need for a patient-focused site providing the kind of help that we want to offer. This site could be a catalyst for change for the better for strabismus patients.
Prof Saurabh Jain is Professor of Ophthalmology at UCL Medical school and Consultant Ophthalmologist at Royal Free Hospital, London. He is a leading expert in strabismus with an international reputation. Prof. Jain is committed to raising awareness of strabismus and I am extremely grateful to have his endorsement of this website and its aims.
The psycho-social impact of strabismus is often overlooked, even dismissed. I am very grateful to Dr Silvia Riva, Associate Professor in Psychology at St Mary’s University and Clinical Psychologist, for her collaboration and expert knowledge. Dr Riva shares our view that strabismus patients ought to be provided with psycho-social support as well as clinical treatment.
As well as offering help to adults, we also want to support adults who are caring for children with strabismus. If you are the parents or guardians of children with strabismus, we know it can be a bewildering experience.
Do take a look around the site. The Strabismus Journal is our blog page with posts on a number of topics which we hope are helpful to you.
Whilst it won’t be possible for Prof Jain or Dr Riva to engage in direct correspondence with visitors to this site, please feel free to contact me via the contact page if there is a topic that you would like raised. Where possible, we could then feature these topics at a later date. We’re just getting started.
If you are struggling to cope with strabismus, please seek help, don’t suffer in silence.