Diplopia

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Diplopia
Synonyms	Double vision
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Seeing two images of a single object
Complications	Strabismus, Amblyopia
Onset	Can be sudden or gradual
Duration	Varies depending on cause
Types	N/A
Causes	Refractive error, Cataract, Cranial nerve palsy, Graves' disease, Myasthenia gravis, Stroke, Trauma
Risks	Diabetes, Hypertension, Multiple sclerosis, Thyroid disease
Diagnosis	Eye examination, Neurological examination, Imaging studies
Differential diagnosis	Monocular diplopia, Binocular diplopia, Migraine, Vertigo
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Corrective lenses, Prism glasses, Surgery, Botulinum toxin
Medication	Corticosteroids, Antibiotics (if infection is present)
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Common
Deaths	N/A

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.

See also

• Vision disorder
• Ophthalmology
• Strabismus
• Cataract