Double vision – causes, treatment

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Double vision can have various causes and is not a medical condition in itself, but it can be a symptom of it. Therefore, if you experience double vision, you should go to an ophthalmologist who, in addition to a complete interview with the patient, should order specialist tests. What diseases can double vision suggest?

Double vision is otherwise known as diplopia and is most often caused by the wrong position of the eyeballs. Disturbed vision, caused by the sudden and abnormal rearrangement of the eyeballs and the lack of cooperation between the eye’s retinas, causes double vision.

Double vision – causes

Double vision can have two causes, namely physiological and pathological. As for the first cause, double vision concerns the object that is in the center, while double vision most often concerns objects that are in front of and behind it. It is not a disturbing condition and affects everyone. However, double vision of the object we are directly looking at is more disturbing. This kind of double vision can be a sign of a developing disease that disturbs the correct alignment of the eyeballs or the symmetry of their movement.

Diplopia can have different origins, and can be monocular or binocular. Very often, diplopia can mean a problem with the lens or the cornea. What diseases do double vision show in their symptoms?

1. the origins of cataracts
2. astigmatism
3. in scars and haze of the cornea
4. after mechanical eye injury
5. double vision can occur at the onset of cataracts.

Disturbances in the work of the eyeballs and their position may result from the so-called paralytic strabismus or a mechanical cause. Double vision can result from:

1. diabetes
2. orbital tumor
3. mechanical damage to the eye socket
4. diseases of the central nervous system, e.g. Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, acute viral infections, aneurysm
5. mechanical head injuries
6. drug poisoning
7. poisoning with toxic substances
8. myasthenia gravis
9. inflammation of the oculomotor muscles

Double vision occurs when glasses are incorrectly selected. Ophthalmologists encounter double images with hidden strabismus or uncorrected and untreated vision defects. Double vision is obviously a result of strabismus, but it is also a result of ophthalmic surgery, only in the case of the second cause, double vision disappears spontaneously after a certain period of convalescence.

Double vision – treatment

As soon as double vision appears, see an ophthalmologist. The specialist should conduct an in-depth interview with the patient and find out, for example, in what situation the double image occurred, how long this condition lasts and whether it is accompanied by other symptoms. The physician must evaluate the muscle balance of the eyes as well as binocular vision. Other tests your doctor should do include:

1. splitting test using a light streak
2. examination of passive and active mobility of the eyeballs
3. study of muscle balance on the Hess screen
4. assessment of the head position

Regardless of the medical history and basic ophthalmic examinations, the doctor must order the following:

1. imaging examinations not only of the eye socket, but also of the head
2. Doppler ultrasound that will assess the condition of the vessels
3. testing the level of thyroid hormones

In some situations, it is necessary for an ophthalmologist to cooperate with other specialists.