What is Double Vision (Diplopia) and How Is It Treated?

Double vision, also known as diplopia, is the condition in which an object is perceived at two separate points rather than being perceived at a single point. Diplopia usually occurs when both eyes are open or when the eyes only look in a certain direction. In this case, it may occur as a result of misalignment of the eyes or failure to coordinate eye movements properly. The causes of double vision are often complex and may occur due to different factors. Eye muscles work to keep the eyes aligned and focused on the same point. However, in some people, weak or paralyzed or maladaptive eye muscles may cause irregular eye movements and double vision. Causes of double vision may include strabismus, eye muscle disorders, eye injuries and infections, and nerve damage. Diplopia is an eye disorder that needs to be evaluated and treated by an ophthalmologist. Depending on the determination of the underlying cause, double vision treatment may sometimes require medication, glasses, contact lenses, and sometimes surgical interventions.

What is Double Vision (Diplopia)?

Diplopia is an eye condition that occurs when the eyes are misaligned or eye movements cannot be coordinated properly. Focusing the eyes in different directions can cause interference in the process of combining incoming images in the brain, which can lead to the feeling of double vision. For example, when normally focusing on an object, both eyes look at the same point and create a single image in the brain. However, in the case of diplopia, due to the incompatibility of the eyes with each other, each eye focuses on a different point and two separate images are formed in the brain. This may cause a feeling of double vision.

Which Neurological Diseases Can Double Vision Be a Symptom of?

Double vision may be a symptom of neurological diseases in some people. Some of these diseases may be stroke (paralysis), MS (multiple sclerosis), orbital disease (eye socket) and MG (myasthenia gravis).

If you have double vision, you should consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Don't neglect it.

Does Double Vision Go Away on Its Own?

In some cases, reasons such as fatigue, stress, alcohol consumption may cause temporary double vision, and double vision may disappear on its own. However, since this condition is usually caused by underlying health problems, medical treatments may be required and it does not go away on its own.

Double Vision Treatment

Treatment of double vision is usually possible due to the underlying cause. Some of the frequently used methods in the treatment of this condition are as follows:

• Glasses and contact lenses:In some cases, the vision problem can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Wearing glasses or contact lenses can help relieve double vision by providing clear vision to the eyes.
• Eye patches:Eye patches can be used to protect the vision of the healthy eye and put pressure on the problem eye. . Eye patches can be considered a short-term treatment and are not preferred as a permanent solution.
• Eye exercises:Eye exercises may be recommended for some patients with double vision to strengthen their eye muscles and increase their coordination. . Exercises to improve focus with eye movements and increase harmony between the eyes can help reduce the problem of double vision.
• Surgical intervention:Diplopia can be eliminated with surgical intervention. It is a preferred method, especially in cases where cataracts or eye muscles need to be aligned.

What are the Causes of Double Vision (Diplopia)?

There may be many different reasons that cause the feeling of double vision and the transmission of different images to the brain. Some of these reasons are as follows:

• Corneal damage:The cornea is a tissue located at the front of the eye that allows light to enter the eye. It is a transparent tissue layer. Corneal damage occurs when the cornea is damaged or abnormalities occur on its surface, which can cause double vision. Corneal damage can be caused by injuries and traumas, infections such as shingles-herpes, keratoconus or dry eyes. Cataract can be considered one of the common causes of double vision and may often require surgery. This problem can cause the light to not be focused sufficiently due to the lens in the eye becoming cloudy, causing images to be perceived as blurry or double. Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes and result in a feeling of double vision.
• Eye muscle disorders:Eye muscle disorders can include paralysis or weakness of the eye muscles. This prevents the eyes from aligning properly. The inability of the eye muscles to work effectively makes it difficult for the eyes to focus harmoniously and can cause the feeling of double vision.
• Nervous system problems:Nervous system diseases can prevent the eyes from working harmoniously and cause double vision. may cause visual sensation. Patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome may complain of double vision.
• Brain damage:The brain controls eye movements and image processing. Many causes of double vision can be caused by brain damage. Some of the damages that occur in the brain and cause double vision may include blows or injuries to the brain, aneurysms, brain tumors and migraines.

Double Vision (Diplopia) Symptoms

Symptoms of double vision are characterized by the perception of objects as double or blurring of images. Although this condition varies depending on the underlying cause and the type of diplopia, common symptoms may include:

• Double vision:The most obvious symptom of diplopia is the perception of objects as double. is the situation. Patients see double objects side by side, on top of each other or diagonally.
• Blurry image:In case of double vision, images may be blurry or unclear. The contours of objects may not be clear or the two images may be confused.
• Eye fatigue:A feeling of tiredness in the eyes may frequently occur in people experiencing diplopia. Having to constantly make an effort to clear or focus the eyes can cause the eyes to feel tired and sometimes cause pain. There may be pain around the eyebrows, temples and eyelids.
• Headache:Diplopia may be associated with headaches in some people. If this condition persists for a long time or intensifies, a headache may occur. Headaches may occur due to the eyes focusing on different points and the incompatibility of images in the brain.
• Eyes looking in different directions:If diplopia is caused by a condition related to the eye muscles and nerves, there may be a problem with the alignment of the eyes. This may cause strabismus or asymmetry problems in the eyes.

If one or more of the mentioned symptoms are experienced, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists can perform eye examinations and necessary tests to determine the underlying cause of double vision. Correct diagnosis and treatment can help improve double vision.

Binocular Diplopia

Binocular diplopia is the most common type of double vision and is the condition in which double vision occurs in both eyes. The feeling of double vision persists when both eyes are open or when both eyes are focused at the same time. Binocular diplopia usually occurs when there is a problem with the alignment of the eyes or the coordination of the eye muscles and can often be a symptom of physiological diseases. Some common causes may include diabetes, nerve damage, cranial nerve palsy, Graves' disease (toxic goiter) and strabismus.

Monocular Diplopia

Monocular diplopia usually refers to vision problems in one eye. In this case, the feeling of double vision continues even when one eye is open or the other eye is closed. Monocular diplopia is usually due to a problem with the optical system or retina of the eye. Some of the underlying causes of monocular diplopia include astigmatism, corneal shape changes, pterygium, dry eye and cataract.

What are the Types of Double Vision (Diplopia)?

Types of double vision may differ depending on the underlying causes and eye health status. There are generally two different types of this situation. The mentioned types can be explained as follows:

Source

1. https://www.webmd.com/ eye-health/double-vision-diplopia-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/double-vision/
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/diplopia#diagnosis