About me

Hi, I'm Fadel. I had strabismus surgery in 2025.

If you're reading this, you're probably where I was not long ago: researching obsessively, anxious about surgery, wondering if it's worth it, and looking for someone who actually understands what you're going through.

I created Life After Strabismus because I couldn't find what I needed when I was preparing for my own surgery. Most information online was either too clinical or too vague. I wanted real talk from someone who had been through it. So now I'm trying to be that person for you.

My strabismus story

I've had strabismus since I was 10 years old, caused by a trauma that also left a scar on my retina. That eye has about 3/10 vision, and when I use only that eye, I can literally see the scar, it looks like a Nike swoosh. Maybe they should sponsor me.

Here's the amazing thing about the brain, though: when I use both eyes together, I don't see the blind spot at all. The brain's fusion ability compensates for it completely. Our visual system is truly remarkable.

The strabismus itself was exotropia, an outward drift of that eye. It chipped away at my confidence for years. I avoided photos, felt self-conscious in conversations, and always wondered whether people were looking at my eyes instead of listening to what I was saying.

After years of living with it, I finally decided to do something about it.

Before & after, my real photos

You can see my exotropia before surgery, the early healing at one week (yes, the redness is normal), and how my eyes look now.

My surgery details

• Year: 2025
• Location: East Tallinn Central Hospital Eye Clinic, Estonia
• Procedure: surgery on two muscles, the lateral rectus was weakened and the medial rectus strengthened
• Sutures: none adjustable, no adjustment needed afterwards
• Result: successful alignment

My recovery, honestly

The first week was the hardest, not because of pain, but because of the discharge and discomfort. Every morning I woke up with sticky eyes that needed careful cleaning, and moving my eyes left or right felt strange while the operated muscles healed.

By week three I was back to my normal routine: work, computer, phone, everything. The only restriction left was no gym for two months. The peak result came around four months, when my eyes had truly stabilized and my brain had fully adapted to the new alignment. The full week-by-week story is in my surgery experience article.

Why I created this site

While researching, I found plenty of medical websites with clinical information. What I couldn't find: what recovery actually feels like day by day, how long until you look normal again, what to prepare before surgery, and real before-and-after photos from actual patients. This site exists to answer those questions, every article pairs my personal experience with researched information, because you deserve both.

What I am, and what I'm not

• I am a patient who has been through diagnosis, decision, surgery, and recovery as an adult.
• I am not a doctor, optometrist, or medical professional of any kind.
• Nothing here is medical advice. Always consult a qualified ophthalmologist or strabismus specialist about your own treatment. My job is to help you walk into that appointment informed, calm, and with the right questions, start with the surgery prep checklist and question list.

You're not alone in this. I've been where you are, and I'm here to help.

Fadel