The Wandering Eye

Suburban Chicago, September 1963. I started wearing glasses when I was about four years old. My Mom noticed I had "crossed eyes" or strabismus. In this photo, my right eye looks at the camera, but my left eye wanders.

For a time, Mom and the ophthalmologist tried patch therapy, but like most children, I removed the patch. When I switched to glasses, I thought it was important to select stylish spectacles. I remember choosing this pair—which was bluish in tint—because one of my babysitter wore similar glasses (and so did her sister).