Double Vision (Diplopia): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Double vision or diplopia is about seeing two images of the same object instead of one. The condition affects your reading ability, movement, and balance. This may happen in only one eye or both, which is severe when in both eyes.

People often mistake double vision for blurry vision. But unlike blurry vision, you will see two images. One image, the ghost image, is fainter than the other. Diplopia is usually temporary but if it does not clear, it is a sign of a more serious health condition in your body. So, it is important to schedule an eye exam as soon as you notice you have double vision.

Types of Diplopia

Diplopia depends on the type you may have. These include:

• Monocular Diplopia - It persists in one eye when you close the other. It is common and less serious. The problem could be in your eyes or an underlying issue in your body.

• Horizontal Diplopia - In this case, the two images appear side by side. It depends on the cause of the double vision and how or why your eyes are out of alignment.

• Vertical Diplopia - The difference between vertical and horizontal diplopia is that, in this type, one image appears on top of another.

• Diagonal Diplopia - In this case, the displacement of the images is both horizontal and vertical.

Symptoms

Diplopia can be a symptom of an underlying condition. You may experience other symptoms with double vision. These include:

• Migraines and headaches

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Loss of balance

• Eye weakness

• Pain when you move your eyes

• Droopy eyelids

Causes

Temporary double vision can result from drinking too much, being overly tired, or using medication. Head injuries like concussions can also cause double vision. It will not last for long, so it is not a cause for worry. But if the double vision continues, there may be other underlying causes. What are some of these causes?

Strabismus

A common cause of double vision is strabismus or a squint. It is common in children and causes the eyes to look in different directions. It clears up as they grow and does not always result in double vision. If it persists, the brain learns to adapt by ignoring the information in one eye so one of your eyes will see a different thing.

Stroke

When there is an obstruction in the blood vessels, blood can fail to reach the brain. It affects the nerves controlling the eye muscles, causing double vision.

Thyroid Dysfunction

Changes in thyroid function can affect the muscles that control the eye.

Diabetes

Diabetes affects the way your body processes glucose. It can affect the blood vessels and nerves that supply the retina. You may experience diplopia when diabetes affects the nerves controlling eye movement.

Treatment

The most important thing is to identify the cause of diplopia. It will help with treatment. Treatment involves surgery, medication, vision therapy, or prism in glass prescriptions.

For more information on diplopia or double vision, visit Quality Eye Care at our office in Jacksonville or Gainesville, Florida. Call (904) 601-1300 to schedule an appointment today.