Twin steps out of the shadows

For people with strabismus, the world may not look the way it does to someone whose eyes are properly aligned. Because the eyes point in different directions, the brain may receive two images of the same object, causing double vision.

In children who have lived with the condition for years, the brain may instead suppress the image from one eye to avoid seeing double. This can lead to reduced vision in that eye and poor depth perception.

But strabismus affects more than sight. A visibly misaligned eye can become a source of unwanted attention, teasing and bullying — especially for children. Some patients avoid eye contact, photographs, social activities and public situations. Others grow up believing that their appearance makes them less worthy, less attractive or less capable.

The emotional burden can last for decades.

Helping kids with strabismus

The Tzu Chi Eye Center in Sta. Mesa, Manila operates on children with strabismus. In 2022, 14 kids with the condition underwent surgery at the facility run by the Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines. It conducted 19 similar operations in 2023 and 22 in 2024.

Drs. Rica Abes Servera and Dr. Catherine Qui Macaraig performed the strabismus operations.

Strabismus occurs in 2 to 5 kids per 100 people in the Philippines, with more Exotropia (banlag) than Esotropia (duling), according to Servera.

Corrective surgery is done under general anesthesia so it usually cost around P100,000 to P150,000.

At the Center, however, the operation is free, shouldered by generous donors of the humanitarian organization. Its volunteer ophthalmologists are well-trained and use the most advance equipment and technology for corrective surgery.

Lifelong wish comes true

A febrile seizure when Virginia de Guzman was a toddler caused her right eye to turn outward. Playmates called her “Crossed-Eyed Virgie.”

While life went on despite her condition, even marrying a man who accepted her physical imperfection, De Guzman still wished to have her crossed-eye fixed at the age of 74. That chance finally came this year after a fellow churchgoer mentioned about a charitable eye center in Manila that offers strabismus surgery.

Qui-Macaraig also found De Guzman to be suffering from cataracts when they met. When De Guzman told Macaraig that she could live with cataracts but not with crossed-eye, the latter decided to fix both conditions.

The delicate operation that aligned De Guzman’s eyed happened on 26 March 2026.

“I am so happy that before I even leave this world, I have been given an opportunity to experience the joy of being confident, of no longer needing to hide and feel ashamed to face others,” a thankful De Guzman said.

Confidence to face crowd

Paul Claro, 18, looks identical with twin brother, Paulo. But people easily distinguished Paul from Paulo before because of his crossed eye. Born with the condition, Paul became the target of relentless bullying.

“Even while walking through the school hallway, people I didn’t even know would suddenly call me ‘cross-eyed,’ ‘squint!’ These words have become like my signature on campus,” Paul lamented.

Fear of being ridiculed caused Paul to avoid making friends. Withdrawal from social situations made him aloof and isolated.

Her mother was also affected by her son’s preference to stay behind the camera or completely out of the frame during pictorial.

Paulo blunted the bullying and tried to restore Paul’s confidence by encouraging him to join competitions and step onto stages alongside him.

In 2025, while scanning social media, Mrs. Claro came across a shared post about the foundation and immediately sought its help. On 18 March, Dr. Arianne Pavon and Macaraig expertly aligned Paul’s eyes.

Paul who had spent a lifetime running from the spotlight, had now completely regained his self-esteem to face the crowd with confidence. He is no longer hiding behind his twin brother!

At the Tzu Chi Eye Center, volunteer doctors corrected more than an eye misalignment. They helped patients recover the confidence to meet the world face to face.