# Crossed eye **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossed-eye/402007 "2007-04-29T02:13:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dart)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossed-eye/402007/1 "2007-04-29T02:13:50Z")
Some of the people I work with have “crossed” eyes, and I always wonder how to make eye contact with them without insulting them. I know this is kind of a silly question, but I’m never sure which eye to look at, or whether it’s insulting for me to go back and forth. Can anyone speak from experience and tell me what to do here? Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossed-eye/402007/2 "2007-04-29T03:01:22Z")
I’d suggest looking at the bridge of the nose. Right smack dab in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossed-eye/402007/3 "2007-04-29T03:05:43Z")
I think it’s good of you to ask. Look at the eye that’s looking at you. If the eye is floating up, it’s not their dominant eye and they are not focusing with that eye. If you look at the floating eye, to them you will appear to be looking behind them. Please don’t alternate focusing on both eyes; that makes for a guaranteed trip down Self-Conscious Boulevard. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossed-eye/402007/4 "2007-04-29T03:51:56Z")
I’ve known two people with eyes like this. Not crossed (I think of that as both eyes looking toward the nose at the same time) but one eye looking in a different direction than the other. One was a professor at university, and I swear, I could not tell if he was talking to me in class or not! ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossed-eye/402007/5 "2007-04-29T04:21:04Z")
[QUOTE=Savannah] Not crossed (I think of that as both eyes looking toward the nose at the same time) but one eye looking in a different direction than the other. [/QUOTE] I have crossed eyes, but my eyes do not look toward my nose. With crossed eyes, while one eye gazes at a target, the other drifts upward and inward. With concentration I can make eyes move in synch, but when I do this, I’m lose the ability to focus on a specific target. It feels a little like staring blankly ahead-- looking, but not really seeing. The only condition I know of that causes both eyes to point down toward the nose is [Let’s Make Fun of Cross-Eyed People](http://www.wikihow.com/Cross-Your-Eyes) disease. This condition is strongly correlated with brain damage. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dart)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossed-eye/402007/6 "2007-04-29T04:36:51Z")
Thanks Audrey! That’s exactly what I was looking for. You have just saved two of my coworkers from a semi-daily trip down Self-Conscious Boulevard. 😉