Lazy eye when eyes are closed?

Question

When I open my eyes, everything comes into place because my eyes both go to the side when I close them. It's also hard to put in my contacts because my left eye starts going to the left...(I have no problems putting the right one in, though.) I'm 16 right now and I don't know if it's something that will get worse. (AKA permanently lazy eye)

I can see fine when my eyes are open (they are both in the center) it's when I close them that they both go different directions. It feels really weird when I'm trying to sleep and my eyes are looking different ways! I was just wondering if this could become a permanent lazy eye if I didn't do something now.

Thanks for your response, though!

Answer 1

It is called exophoria (if, like you said, they turn out only when not used). It is a misalignment of the ocular muscles used to keep your eyes aligned; if it is only present when your eyes are not in use. For instance; when you look through your eyes the images are overlapped in your visual cortex, and any misalignment of these images are sent to the muscles to be corrected. However, when you are not looking through your eyes, whether they are closed or you are only looking through one eye, the muscles relax and cause the eye to turn outward. This can be caused by the muscles being slightly longer or shorter than normal.
You have probably had this for a long time, but if it has recently gotten noticeably worse you need to keep an eye on it... lol. But seriously, it usually does not result in "lazy eye" as you call it. There is not much that can be done for either exophoria (turning out when not in use) or exotropia (turning out constantly), except surgery. Some advocate exercises for it, but I have not known any to actually work. So put your worries to rest because this probably will not lead to exotropia, BUT it would not be a bad idea to have a GOOD eye doctor, not one of those mall docs, check it out.
Hope this helps you.

Answer 2

I have a lazy eye as well. Its my right one. So between you and me we have a good pair of eyes. LOL! Couldnt resist. We have to laugh about it.
I have had a lazy eye my whole life basically. I have great periphial vision with it but cant see anything with it. Reading and stuff. I can tell some times how many fingers someone might be holding up. I can also make a person out with it but it's not clear.
I wear contacts as well. I dont wear one in my lazy eye though being it doesnt improve my vision. I wore a plain lens at one point and it seemed to make the vision in that eye a little sharper but thats it. I dont wear it anymore cause like you...was a pain to put in. I do fine with just one lens and the vision in my lazy eye has not gotten worse over the years if that is what you want to know and I am 36.