Are you seeing doubles? If you are, don’t take it lightly, it may be more serious than you think. Double vision (diplopia) causes people to see two images of the same object. The condition may be due to a problem with the eye itself, or due to a misalignment of the eyes. It’s important to know what are the contributing factors to double vision, so that you can identify which type it is.
The two types of double vision are monocular and binocular.
Monocular double vision is characterized by the distortion of the light transmitted through the eye. It affects one eye, and the double vision persists even if you cover the eye that is not affected.
Factors that contribute to monocular double vision include cataracts that cloud the natural lens of the eye, as well as an abnormally shaped cornea. It may also be due to a refractive eye error such as astigmatism.
Binocular double vision is a condition in which both eyes don’t point to a single object at the same time. Instead each eye receives its own image of the object. In order to see the object clearly, both eyes have to be aligned, so that they work together. With binocular double vision the problem goes away if one eye is covered.
Binocular double vision may be caused by damage to the nerves that control eye movement (extraocular muscles). Conditions such as diabetes, Graves’ disease, Myasthenia gravis, and strabismus, also contribute to binocular double vision (learn more).
Contact the Center for Ophthalmology and Laser Surgery, Lighthouse Point, FL, which also serves greater Fort Lauderdale, to find out more about the contributing factors to double vision. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Michael Loeffler by calling (954) 786-5353.