Pommel Horse Guy & Wilmington Eye

Several main characters have emerged from the 2024 Paris Olympics. But there’s one in particular who has caught our eye, and that is recent bronze medal winner Stephen Nedoroscik, aka Pommel Horse Guy.

One of the many things that stood out about Stephen was his glasses, and how he seemingly relied on them to see but effortlessly executed his pommel horse routine without them. He fittingly has been compared to Clark Kent; glasses for the average version of Stephen and no glasses for the odd-defying Stephen.

We all remember seeing Stephen put on his game face after removing his glasses at the bench and squinting into the distance to prepare for his eventual win. This iconic moment in Olympic history led to Stephen winning his team’s first medal in 16 years! Without missing a beat, he celebrated his victory by rejoining his teammates and hoisting his glasses in the air.

Olympic spectators quickly became enthralled with his backstory and everyone’s curiosity piqued over this new bespectacled champion. So, what do Pommel Horse Guy and Wilmington Eye have in common? Strabismus.

What is Strabismus and How Does it Affect Adults

Stephen lives with an eye condition called strabismus. Strabismus occurs when misalignment of the eyes is present. This happens when one eye is focused on an object while the other crosses in, drifts out, floats up, or points down. While most common in children, it also occurs in roughly 4% of US adults.

Adults with strabismus may experience double vision or have trouble focusing when reading or working. Strabismus can place several limitations on your life, inhibiting your ability to drive and work. Adrienne, a patient of Wilmington Eye, shares just how debilitating strabismus can be on your everyday life.

Treatment for Strabismus

There are solutions for those struggling with strabismus. Glasses and patching are common initial treatments when an adult is diagnosed with strabismus. However, for those with severe misalignment, eye muscle surgery may be needed to correct the misalignment and provide long-term results.

Dr. Melissa Shipley, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatric ophthalmologist and specializes in strabismus surgery in both adults and children. She operated on Adrienne and it drastically changed her life.

Stephen does not seem to let his vision challenges slow him down! His triumph has helped spread awareness about strabismus and serves as a reminder that you can overcome challenging obstacles and achieve great things. Hat’s off—or should we say, glasses off—to Stephen for taking home the bronze for the US team!

If you suffer from strabismus, schedule an appointment at Wilmington Eye and Dr. Melissa Shipley to review your treatment options.