Diplopia: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is a condition in which a person sees two images of a single object. In this article, you will learn all that you need to know about diplopia.

Medical Terminology of Diplopia

The medical terminology for diplopia is diplopía, and it is pronounced dip–loe–PEE–uh. Diplopia can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from neurological conditions to trauma.

What are The Symptoms and Causes of Diplopia?

The most common symptom of diplopia is seeing two images of a single object. Other symptoms can include:

• Headaches
• Eye strain
• Fatigue

There are many possible causes of diplopia, including but not limited to:

• Neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or stroke
• Trauma to the head or face
• Eye muscle problems
• Refractive error

Which Eye Specialist Can Diagnose Diplopia?

A diplopia diagnosis can be made by an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or neurologist. Your eye specialist will likely perform a comprehensive eye examination, as well as order tests such as blood work, MRI, or CT scan.

What is Diplopia Binocular, and What is Diplopia Monocular?

Diplopia can be categorized as either binocular or monocular.

Binocular diplopia occurs when both eyes are open and the brain is unable to fuse the two images into one. Monocular diplopia occurs when only one eye is open and the brain is unable to fuse the two images into one.

What is The Difference Between Binocular and Monocular Diplopia?

The main difference between binocular and monocular diplopia is that binocular diplopia requires both eyes to be open, while monocular diplopia only requires one eye to be open.

How Diplopia Can Be Prevented?

There is no sure way to prevent diplopia, but there are some measures that can be taken to reduce your risk. These measures include:

• Wearing protective eyewear during activities that could result in eye injury
• Regular comprehensive eye examinations
• Maintaining good overall health

Diplopia Treatment

There is no one-size-fits-all diplopia treatment. The type of diplopia treatment that you receive will depend on the underlying cause of your diplopia.

Some common diplopia treatments include:

• Eye Patching: Wearing an eye patch over the affected eye can help to train the brain to ignore the double vision.
• Prism Glasses: Prism glasses are special eyeglasses that help to realign the eyes.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the underlying cause of diplopia.
• Botox Injections: Botox injections can help to relax the eye muscles and improve diplopia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, diplopia (or double vision) is a condition in which a person sees two images of a single object. It can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from neurological conditions to trauma. There is no sure way to prevent diplopia, but there are some measures that can be taken to reduce your risk.

If you have diplopia, be sure to see your eye specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. With the proper care, diplopia can be managed and its symptoms can be minimized.

Do you have diplopia? Have you ever been diagnosed with diplopia? Let us know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this article, you may want to learn about Why Eyes Watering All The Time.

References

• Cleveland Clinic: Diplopia (Double Vision)
• NHS: Double Vision
• Top Doctors: Diplopia (double vision)