Diplopia

Diplopia

Illustration of diplopia, showing double vision.

Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is a condition where a person perceives two images of a single object. This can occur in one eye (monocular diplopia) or both eyes (binocular diplopia). Diplopia can be a symptom of various underlying conditions, ranging from benign to serious.

Causes

Diplopia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Refractive errors: Imperfections in the eye's focusing ability can lead to monocular diplopia.
• Strabismus: Misalignment of the eyes can cause binocular diplopia.
• Cranial nerve palsies: Damage to the nerves controlling eye muscles can result in diplopia.
• Cataracts: Clouding of the eye's lens can cause monocular diplopia.
• Corneal irregularities: Conditions like keratoconus can lead to distorted vision.
• Neurological disorders: Conditions such as multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis can affect eye movement and alignment.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of diplopia is seeing two images of a single object. These images may be:

• Horizontally aligned
• Vertically aligned
• Diagonally aligned

Other symptoms that may accompany diplopia include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Eye strain

Diagnosis

Diagnosing diplopia involves a comprehensive eye examination. An ophthalmologist or optometrist may perform tests such as:

• Visual acuity test
• Eye alignment and movement tests
• Slit-lamp examination
• Retinal examination

Treatment

Treatment for diplopia depends on the underlying cause. Options may include:

• Corrective lenses: Glasses or contact lenses can correct refractive errors.
• Prisms: Special lenses that help align the images seen by each eye.
• Surgery: Procedures to correct eye muscle alignment or remove cataracts.
• Medication: To treat underlying conditions like myasthenia gravis.

Related pages

• Vision disorder
• Ophthalmology
• Strabismus
• Cataract