Double vision

Double items? This symptom should be taken seriously. Although bifurcation (also called diplopia) can be temporary, you should still see an ophthalmologist to find out what’s going on. Timely measures taken will help eliminate the problem, prevent complications.

What is double vision?

Diplopia or double vision is a phenomenon of subjective sensation, manifested by doubling the objects that a person looks at. The phenomenon can be a symptom of a disease or a temporary manifestation of a condition. Several objects or one can double, temporarily or permanently, in bright light or more in the dark. These characteristics depend on the cause. Diplopia caused by overexertion, eye fatigue, can go away on its own, but often requires further examination and treatment.

Causes of double vision

Temporary episodes of double vision can occur for a variety of reasons, including drinking too much alcohol, excessive fatigue, and chronic sleep deprivation. These causes of short-term diplopia are not usually of any concern.

If symptoms persist or keep coming back, causes may include:

• stroke;
• head injury;
• corneal irregularity;
• cataract;
• surgical treatment of the eyes;
• dry eyes;
• damage to the cranial nerves;
• brain tumor or cerebral aneurysm.

An injury to the head, a tumor, a stroke, or a related condition can cause double vision to appear suddenly. After learning the process, the optometrist refers the patient to a specialist such as a neurologist or neurosurgeon for further testing and treatment.

Corneal irregularities

Double vision is caused by factors such as keratoconus (cone-shaped cornea) and corneal dystrophy (deterioration of the structure, thinning). Doubling is very difficult to manage. Corneal irregularities can be corrected by wearing special contact lenses. Some people’s condition may require surgery – corneal transplantation and placement of implants.

Dry eyes

This is the next reason for double vision. Tired, dry eyes, such as those seen in Sjögren’s syndrome, can cause double vision due to insufficient tears. Many people suffering from this pathology with dry eyes can be helped by moisturizing eye drops, vitamins for the eyes.

Refractive surgery

Any manipulation intended to improve vision can lead to symptoms due to a change in the curvature of the cornea. This causes the light rays to scatter instead of focusing properly. The problem usually clears up within a few weeks or months when the eye recovers from surgery. In this case, it may be necessary to use eye drops for a while. In some cases, a second laser vision correction procedure is recommended.

Cataract

A cataract can present with double vision, but it usually only occurs in one eye. This is because clouding of the lens, which is behind the pupil, can cause the light rays to scatter in different directions, creating multiple incomplete images, especially when a person looks into the light. Cataract surgery usually corrects this problem.

Damage to cranial nerves

Double vision can be caused by paralysis or partial dysfunction of one or more of the muscles that control the position and interaction of the eyes. The disease is caused by:

• diabetes;
• head injury;
• tumor;
• multiple sclerosis;
• meningitis;
• high blood pressure;
• blockage of an artery or aneurysm.

The condition requires medical attention and treatment. In addition to conservative therapy, surgical methods can be used, special glasses can be prescribed.

Fluoroquinolones

In addition to the above reasons, fluoroquinolones are not the last factor influencing the eyes. They can cause double vision. The researchers analyzed 171 cases associated with systemic fluoroquinolones (antibiotics used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and other infections caused by infections occurring between 1986 and 2009. In 53 patients, the antibiotic regimen was discontinued, and this is when the bifurcation went away. One of the side effects The effects of fluoroquinolones is tendon dysfunction, which, if it occurs in the muscles around the eyes, can cause this problem.

Instead of seeing a double image clearly, a person may only notice a partial or ghostly, blurry outline around or to the side of what they are looking at (especially if it is a light source). Double vision in cataracts, usually seen in one eye. Silhouettes around objects may occur after corneal transplant surgery. Some of these problems disappear when the problem is solved, for example, after cataract surgery.

Strabismus

When two eyes move and focus correctly and accurately at the same time, we see only one image. If the two eyes focus differently, double vision can occur. Some people are born with eyes that don’t work together, a condition called strabismus. The organs can look inward or turn outward. One eye can even go up and the other down.

If a person has strabismus, then he sees two objects instead of one, because each eye projects different pictures at the same time. The brain usually adapts by closing or ignoring information from one eye. This is called suppression. Surgery or vision therapy helps many people with strabismus manage double vision.

Symptoms of double vision

When a person opens their eyes and sees one clear image, then this is the norm. This is the result of a complex process that requires the eyes, nerves and brain to work together. Ghosting means there is a problem with the system. And this is the case that should be taken seriously, because some causes require immediate treatment. Double vision can occur without any other symptoms. Depending on the cause, it is also noted:

• inconsistency of one or two eyes (“wandering eye” or “cross-gaze”);
• pain when moving the eye;
• pain around the eyes, near the temples and eyebrows;
• headache;
• nausea;
• eye weakness;
• puffy eyelids.

Double vision is a good reason to seek medical attention. With so many potential causes, it’s important to find the real one immediately. The doctor usually resorts to several methods at once to find out what is causing the problem. After the examination, CT, MRI, determination of visual fields, blood tests may be prescribed.

To determine the diagnosis, the doctor may ask questions: When did the double vision start? Have you hit your head, fallen or passed out? Have you been in a car accident? Does vision deteriorate at the end of the day or when you are very tired? Have you had any symptoms other than splitting? Do you tend to tilt your head to the side? Look at old photos or ask your family – you may not even know about this habit. All of these questions help to recognize double vision syndrome.

In addition, doctors offer a very easy way to understand that something is wrong with vision. You need to focus on something in your field of vision. On something that doesn’t move, like a window or a tree. Are these two objects one above the other? Or are they slightly tilted? Which object is higher or lower?

Are both pictures clear? Or is one blurry and the other clear? There are also auxiliary simple methods that will help determine double vision. Close one eye, then switch. Does the problem disappear when either eye is closed? Tilt your head to the right and then to the left. Does vision improve or worsen in any of these positions?

Timely detection of the problem will help prevent the development of visual impairment, problems from double vision, identify the cause and act on it.