Scientifically it's known as 'strambismus', but locally it's called "cock-eye" - and for those with this condition, it's socially unpleasant and physically disabling.
But there is hope for cross-eyed persons. In the country for 9 days is Scottish Ophthalmologist Alistair Rennie. He's part of the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired's efforts to help Belizeans with vision impairment.
And while he won't make the blind see, he will make cross-eyes straight and we were in the operating theatre when he did it today.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
The clinical condition of the eye, commonly known as lazy eye or cross-eye, is common in Belize. This condition develops as a result of contractions or expansions of muscles that are responsible for the movement of the eye.
Dr. Alistair Rennie,
"Sometimes people are born with this or develop this squint because of a spectacle requirement and sometime people squint because of an injury. It is also possible for adults to get a squint because of problems in the brain so if the pressure is up in the brain it is possible to develop and to develop double vision. Sometimes people with high blood pressure get squints later on in life."
"Its very common-it seems very common because we see lots of children with squints. There are different ways of treating them - some children need glasses to correct their squints, some need an operation or glasses-glasses and an operation. Sometimes we need to do some patching to improve the vision in the squinting eye before doing the operation because in young children if we have good vision on both eyes and then operate we have a good chance of getting them to use both eyes and of course you see with better with two eyes than one."
Today Scottish Ophthalmologist Dr. Alistair Rennie who is volunteering his services to the Belize Council for the visually impaired for the next 4 days worked on doing that for a few patients. First in was Shandra Coc who had her left eye squinting inward.
Dr. Alistair Rennie,
"We were able to slacken off the muscle on the inside and tighten the muscle on the outside and we were able to straighten her eye that way."
"In older people there is always a worry that when you straighten the eye it may wonder in the other direction and we have taken this into consideration in this lady's case so that when her eye is straight it should remain that way."
And while she will have her eyes properly aligned, also waiting for corrective surgery was 14-year-old Michael Stevenson who has a growth under his left eyelid. His father Lincoln says he's grateful for today's procedure.
Lincoln Stevenson, Father of Patient
"He used to tell me everyday that his eye is hurting him. Sometimes he would be at school and his teachers would have to send him home because his eyes would be hurting. So the teacher told me to bring him here and they might be able to help him here."
"I feel very happy because everyday he would tell me his eyes are hurting so I told him I would bring here and they gave this appointment for Thursday. So I came back and told the nurse thanks because I feel like that strain has been taken off my back."
This relief is something that Dr. Rennie says is one that parents always have after corrective surgery is done. He warns however that it is always best to do the procedure as early as possible to ensure best results.
Dr. Alistair Rennie,
"With children you want to pick up the problem early and get the best results-the functional results. In older people when you operate it can be for a functional result but it can also be for a cosmetic result because some people are very unhappy because they eyes turn in or out."
An unhappiness that was today taken from at least three persons who had corrective surgery to align the eyes properly.
So far, Dr. Rennie has performed 8 surgeries and will be doing more next week Monday.