Widely regarded as perhaps the greatest of the Presidents of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln held office during the Civil War, from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Many aspects of Lincoln's life -- from his humble beginnings in Kentucky and Indiana, to his practicing law before becoming a leader in the nascent Republican party -- are well known. But did you know that he also had strabismus?

Look carefully at this image. Notice how his left eye appears to be looking higher than his right. This is suggestive of a vertical strabismus (eye misalignment), as are the reports that Lincoln suffered from double vision and that his left eye would "roll upward when he was excited or tired."

The intermittent nature of this symptom is consistent with either an intermittent left hypertropia or a dissociated vertical deviation. Both of these conditions are easily diagnosed by a pediatric ophthalmologist, and treatment options may include prisms glasses or corrective surgery.

Because of his very tall, thin stature, many historians have suggested that Lincoln had a condition called Marfan syndrome, a genetic disease which affects the connective tissues in the body. People with Marfan syndrome are typically very tall, thin, and "loose jointed." They are more likely to have strabismus, and may also develop early cataracts, glaucoma, corneal problems, or retinal detachments.

Note: Special credit to my partner, Dr. Jeffrey Colburn MD, of the Spokane Eye Clinic, for making me aware of President Lincoln's strabismus.