What is diplopia?
Diplopia is the medical term for double vision or seeing double. Diplopia is defined as seeing two images of a single object when you’re looking at it.
Double vision is usually a temporary issue, but it can also be a sign of more serious health conditions. Even if it’s caused by something as simple as needing new glasses, it’s important to get your eyes examined by your healthcare provider right away if you start seeing double.
Advertisem*nt
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Monocular vs. binocular diplopia
Your healthcare provider will classify your double vision as either monocular (one eye) or binocular (both eyes). Monocular diplopia is present when you use only one eye at a time. It may appear as a shadow. Binocular diplopia is present when both eyes are open at the same time. It goes away if you cover one of your eyes.
Monocular diplopia is more common and usually less serious. Binocular diplopia is usually caused by your eyes being out of alignment or other, more serious underlying conditions.
Horizontal diplopia vs. vertical diplopia
If you have binocular diplopia, your double vision can appear either vertically (top to bottom) or horizontally (side to side). Which one you have depends on what’s causing your diplopia and how (or why) your eyes are out of alignment.
Who does diplopia affect?
Diplopia can affect anyone, but it’s most common in adults older than 60.
How common is diplopia?
Experiencing some form of double vision is extremely common. More than 800,000 people a year visit their healthcare provider because of diplopia. It’s also one of the most common reasons people go to the emergency room (ER). Around 50,000 people every year go to the ER because they have double vision.
How does diplopia affect my body?
The most obvious effect diplopia has on your body is the double vision itself. In addition to the physical symptoms, it can be scary when something affects your eyesight. The good news is that almost 90% of cases of double vision are temporary and have no long-term or serious implications for your health. But diplopia can decrease your depth perception, making driving or walking more difficult.
FAQs
The doctor may recommend using a soft patch with an elastic headband. Opaque tape attached to an eyeglass lens can have the same effect. Occlusion therapy is typically used until double vision resolves. Your doctor monitors your progress during follow-up visits, which typically occur every two to three months.
What makes double vision go away? ›
It depends on what's causing your diplopia. Some cases of double vision go away on their own, while others get better after your healthcare provider prescribes a treatment. If you need surgery (to remove cataracts, for example) to correct the issues in your eye, it might take a few weeks for you to feel better.
What is the main cause of diplopia? ›
Serious causes include myasthenia gravis, a weakness in the body's voluntary muscles, multiple sclerosis, a brain tumor or aneurysm, a stroke and giant cell arteritis. Sometimes the causes have multiple layers. For example, long-term smoking can lead to a brain aneurysm, which, in turn, can cause double vision.
How can I fix double vision naturally? ›
A person should try the following exercises three to four times per day for a maximum of 2 minutes each time.
- Pen-to-nose convergence. Hold a pen or similar object at arm's length and focus on it. ...
- Jump convergence. Start by holding a pen or similar object in one hand while looking into the distance. ...
- Dot card. ...
- Stereograms.
This disrupts the eye-brain connection when it comes to processing what you see. The result: You may suffer from nausea, reading problems, headaches, anxiety, and more. VH can be a debilitating condition that interferes with your daily life and ability to perform routine tasks.
Is double vision a red flag? ›
The three most important 'red flag' symptoms that indicate that a patient may need neuro-ophthalmological assessment are: Sudden onset of double vision (diplopia) Headache accompanied by vision loss (without an ocular cause)
What deficiency causes double vision? ›
What deficiency causes double vision? Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause vision issues, such as double vision. Other vitamin deficiencies that can cause double vision include vitamin C and vitamin D.
Can you reverse double vision? ›
Treatment of binocular double vision usually begins with the use of prisms in your glasses to realign the two images into a single image. Covering one eye with a patch is another option. Once the double vision is stable, then referral to a surgeon may be appropriate to correct the misalignment of the eyes.
How do you know if double vision is neurological? ›
On the other hand, when double vision is present with both eyes open, but goes away upon looking with only one eye, the cause may be neurological. This type of double vision occurs because of abnormal eye movements that cause the eyes to become misaligned.
What makes diplopia worse? ›
Diplopia worse with distance is more typical of sixth nerve palsy because of difficulty with divergence at distance of the eyes while diplopia worse at near is more suggestive of medial rectus palsy because of the need for convergence of the eyes at near.
However, it is important to rule out any neurological cause requiring urgent performing of studies and even hospital admissions in order to determine the cause of such double vision. Therefore, it is always recommended in case of acute double vision to go immediately an eye emergency room.
Can glasses fix diplopia? ›
Prism glasses are successful in 68% to 88% of people with diplopia and are a valuable non-surgical treatment option. Strabismus surgery is an option if prism glasses don't work.
Do eye drops help with double vision? ›
The most common treatments for the double vision associated with dry eye syndrome are lubricating eye drops and lifestyle changes, but that isn't always enough. More severe cases of dry eye may benefit from medicated eye drops, supplements or surgery to improve the eyes' tear and oil production.
Can diplopia be cured? ›
Almost 70% of cases get better with medication and surgery, such as cataract surgery. Sometimes, diplopia clears up on its own. Your results will depend on the cause of your double vision. If your double vision is from an eye muscle problem and is permanent, treatments can help you live with it.
What can an optometrist do for double vision? ›
Depending on the cause of your double vision, our eye specialists may recommend one or more of the following treatments: Blocking or blurring the vision of one eye to minimize double vision, using: An eye patch. An occlusive lens, either a contact lens or a lens applied to glasses.
Can a prescription fix double vision? ›
Prism correction is utilized as a component of some eyeglass prescriptions to provide clear vision if you experience diplopia.
Is there surgery to correct double vision? ›
At NYU Langone, surgery to align the eyes may be needed to correct double vision caused by strabismus, or misalignment of the eyes. It may also be the best option for people who do not experience any improvement with nonsurgical therapies, such as prisms and eye patches.
