We don’t think about it very often, but the ability for our eyes (two separate organs) to take in information, and fuse it into one image is nothing short of remarkable. It’s an excruciating process, requiring perfect levels of muscle tension and precision timing. What’s more amazing is that for the most part, all of this happens without us even having to think about it. But sometimes, our eyes don’t give us one image. Sometimes, our eyes give us two blurry, overlapping images, and that’s usually a sign that something’s gone wrong. Double Vision Vs. Ghost Images When we talk
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We don’t think about it very often, but the ability for our eyes (two separate organs) to take in information, and fuse it into one image is nothing short of remarkable. It’s an excruciating process, requiring perfect levels of muscle tension and precision timing. What’s more amazing is that for the most part, all of this happens without us even having to think about it.
But sometimes, our eyes don’t give us one image. Sometimes, our eyes give us two blurry, overlapping images, and that’s usually a sign that something’s gone wrong.
Double Vision Vs. Ghost Images
When we talk about double vision, many of us are actually referring to ghost images. While double vision usually involves clearly seeing the majority of an object twice, ghost images usually appear around the edge of an object, like a transparent hazy copy, sitting just behind the object at which we’re looking.
Potential Causes
Be it double vision or ghost images, these phenomena are really more like symptoms than an actual stand alone condition. The following issues can cause or contribute to the presence of double vision and ghost images.
Eye Surgery
It’s not uncommon for patients to develop double vision shortly after receivinglaser refractive surgery. These procedures change the shape of your corneas. When your cornea is an irregular shape, it causes light to scatter rather that focusing it properly into a single image.
For the most part, these instances of double vision will clear up on their own after a month or so. You doctor may recommend eyedrops to speed up the process. If the problem persists, you may require a second surgery to further reshape your corneas.
Head & Brain Injuries
Double vision sometimes comes on suddenly due to head injuries, strokes, or brain tumors. If you experience double vision seemingly out of nowhere or following a head injury, you should seekimmediate medical care. You could be at risk for brain damage, so it’s crucial you do not wait before seeking assistance.
Dry Eye
Whendry eyeis particularly severe, it can cause double vision and ghost images. Your eyes need proper lubrication to work properly, so when your tears are too few or poor in quality, your eyesight starts to suffer. Over the counter artificial tears may relieve your symptoms and get rid of your dry eye temporarily. However, to actually cure your dry eye, you’ll need to see an optometrist.
Cataracts
Sometimes as we age, the proteins in our eye fluid start to rearrange, collecting at the lense of our eyes and clouding our vision. These cloudy lenses are calledcataracts. When light travels through a cataract, these proteins cause it to scatter, projecting multiple incomplete images into your eye. This effect is particularly strong when looking directly at lights. Cataract surgery is quite simple and effective; removing the cloudy lense, and therefore double vision and ghost images.
Double Vision Could Indicate a Bigger Problem – See a Doctor
If you’re experiencing regular double vision or ghost images, chances are there’s something not quite right with your eyes. Book an appointment with your optometrist and let them know that you’re experiencing double vision. The sooner we find the problem, the sooner we can fix it.
FAQs
Double Vision Could Indicate a Bigger Problem – See a Doctor
Is it normal to have double vision when focusing? ›
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.
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)
How do people live with double vision? ›
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. Special eyewear, like an eye patch or prism glasses, can ease the effects.
Why do I see double when I focus on something close? ›
Double Vision Causes. A range of conditions can cause double vision, including problems within the eye, such as the cornea or lens. Other underlying causes can involve muscles or nerves controlling eye function and movement, or issues in the brain.
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 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.
What can an ophthalmologist 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.
What happens if you ignore double vision? ›
nausea/vertigo because of an altered field of vision. eye strain. sensitivity to light/sounds. headache (if you experience this symptom, consider it life-threatening unless your doctor says otherwise.
Can you still drive if you have double vision? ›
If you develop double vision and/or this is confirmed by your hospital eye specialist, you should stop driving and inform the DVLA of your diagnosis.
The longer people go without sleep, the harder it is for them to see clearly. People sometimes experience hallucinations when they're sleep-deprived. Sleep deprivation is associated with tunnel vision, double vision, and perceived dimness.
Can glasses correct double vision? ›
Prism correction is used in eyeglasses for some people with diplopia, or double vision. This is when someone sees two separate images of one object. The prism helps align the two images, so that only one image is seen.
What exercise is good for double vision? ›
Tracking Exercises
Begin by keeping it in the center of your vision and focus until it's a single image, then begin slowly moving it in different directions. Move it up, down, left, and right, but make sure you do this slowly. If you begin to notice double vision, start again and repeat the exercise slower.
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.
What is the most common cause of double vision? ›
Common causes of monocular double vision include refractive error, a change in the shape of the eye, which causes vision to become distorted, or the early stages of a cataract, a clouding of the eye's lens. In people with monocular diplopia, double vision may persist even when covering one eye.
Why do I have double vision when looking at screens? ›
Double vision, or diplopia, is the perception of two images from a single object. And staring at a computer screen for too long may cause this. But if double vision persists, it can indicate a severe neurological problem for which you should immediately see your eye doctor.
Can ADHD cause double vision? ›
Yes, ADHD and reading and learning problems could be directly connected to your vision. Oftentimes, what people do not know is that their ADHD (and the symptoms associated with it) could all be the direct result of an issue with their eye misalignment, a condition known as Binocular Vision Dysfunction.
Is double vision a serious symptom? ›
Double vision (diplopia) is not usually serious, but it's important to get it checked, even if it comes and goes.
We don’t think about it very often, but the ability for our eyes (two separate organs) to take in information, and fuse it into one image is nothing short of remarkable. It’s an excruciating process, requiring perfect levels of muscle tension and precision timing. What’s more amazing is that for the most part, all of this happens without us even having to think about it.