cross-eyed after eye exam... why?

October 20, 2016 10:34 PM

I just had an eye exam. Took a picture because I thought my dialated eyes were amusing and I'm bored as I can't see anything .. I looked at the photo realized I'm currently cross-eyed. What's up?

Not alarmed... and not seeking medical advice, just curious. Is this fatigue due to the exam, or the inability to focus due to the eye drops... or is this how I always look when my eyes are really tired, and my husband has been hiding the truth from me? 8^)

My weak eye is the one that seems to be sliding away from where I think I'm looking.

posted by chapps to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

Best answer: I don't know why this happens, but it happens to me too, and man, the first time it happened, it really freaked me out. My eye doc says it's totally normal and "it just happens to some people".
posted by ezrainch at 12:06 AM on October 21, 2016

Best answer: I get this - I chalk it up to fatigue + inability to focus. But mainly muscle fatigue in the eyes.

I'll also get it if tired and/or drunk.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:04 AM on October 21, 2016

Best answer: The oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve lll) controls pupillary constriction, and most movement of the eyeball (left, right, up, down). The meds they use to dilate the eye affect this nerve.
posted by brevator at 2:53 AM on October 21, 2016 [7 favorites]