Why Do I Have Double Vision?
The key question to ask if you have Double Vision is:
1. Does it come and go?
2. Is it present when just 1 eye is open?
1. A. If it does it come and go? Then the most common reasons for Double Vision that Comes and Goes:
1) Need for new glasses
2) Unstable tear film or dry eyes or Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
3) Cataract: can be even a mild change in the lens of the eye
4) Undiagnosed Diabetes
5) Diabetes with or without Macular edema
6) Glaucoma/ High eye pressure
7) Macular Degeneration
8) Other Macular issues (ie, inflammation, infection, previous trauma)
9) Other Optic Nerve issues (ie, inflammation, infection, previous trauma)
10) Rare tumors of eye, brain
1.B. If the Double Vision Is ALWAYS present, the most common causes are:
1. Glasses issue: need new Rx
2. Cataract
3. Cranial Nerve 6, 4, 3 anomalies
4. Muscle paralysis from an issue with a Cranial Nerve or damage to the muscle from previous trauma, surgery, scarring, tumor.
5. Diabetes causing a need for new glasses or a cranial nerve issue leading to a paralysis of the eye muscle (s): the blood vessels that supply blood to the nerves controlling the eye can be affected by diabetes.
6. Keratoconus: a degenerative condition of the eye that causes the cornea to thin and become cone-shaped.
7. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack that has damaged the muscles of the eye: depends on how old you are.
6. Thyroid issues causes ocular muscle enlargement: the thyroid gland is situated in the neck and produces a hormone called thyroxine. Changes in thyroid function can affect the external muscles that control the eye.
Convergence insufficiency: a condition where the eyes do not work together correctly. The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be due to the muscles that control the eye not lining up properly.
8. Aneurysm: an aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel. This can press on the nerve of the eye muscle.This is rare.
9. Grave’s disease: an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. The condition causes changes in the eyes that can lead to double vision, among other sight-related problems.
10. Myasthenia gravis: this condition can cause weakness in the body’s muscles, including those controlling the eyes.
11. Brain tumor/cancer: a tumor or growth behind the eye can interfere with free movement or damage the eye’s nerves.
12. Multiple sclerosis: a diseases that affects the central nervous system, including nerves that supply the eyes.
13. Head injury: obviously this is only likely if you have had a history of head injury which has caused physical damage of the brain, nerves, muscles, or eye socket which can restrict the movement of the eye and its muscles.
2.A. If it is only present when 1 eye is open, then the most common cause is:
1. Glasses issue: need new Rx
2. Cataract
3. Issue related to the one eye: glaucoma, nerve issues, macular issues, tumor in or around the eye/optic nerve.
4. Rarely a brain issue but possible.
2.B. If the double vision is only present when both eyes are open, then most common causes are:
1. Cranial Nerve 6, 4, 3 anomalies
2. Muscle paralysis from an issue with a Cranial Nerve or damage to the muscle from previous trauma, surgery, scarring, tumor.
3. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack that has damaged the muscles of the eye.
4. Tumor in brain, optic nerve or eye.
5. Glasses issue: need new Rx
6. Cataract
7. Diabetes causing a need for new glasses or a cranial nerve issue leading to a paralysis of the eye muscle (s): the blood vessels that supply blood to the nerves controlling the eye can be affected by diabetes.
8. Keratoconus: a degenerative condition of the eye that causes the cornea to thin and become cone-shaped.
9. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack that has damaged the muscles of the eye: depends on how old you are.
10. Thyroid issues causes ocular muscle enlargement: the thyroid gland is situated in the neck and produces a hormone called thyroxine. Changes in thyroid function can affect the external muscles that control the eye.
Convergence insufficiency: a condition where the eyes do not work together correctly. The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be due to the muscles that control the eye not lining up properly.
11. Aneurysm: an aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel. This can press on the nerve of the eye muscle.This is rare.
12. Grave’s disease: an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. The condition causes changes in the eyes that can lead to double vision, among other sight-related problems.
10. Myasthenia gravis: this condition can cause weakness in the body’s muscles, including those controlling the eyes.
13. Brain tumor/cancer: a tumor or growth behind the eye can interfere with free movement or damage the eye’s nerves.
14. Multiple sclerosis: a diseases that affects the central nervous system, including nerves that supply the eyes.
15. Head injury: obviously this is only likely if you have had a history of head injury which has caused physical damage of the brain, nerves, muscles, or eye socket which can restrict the movement of the eye and its muscles.
The key question to ask if you have Double Vision is:
1. Does it come and go?
2. Is it present when just 1 eye is open?
1. A. If it does it come and go? Then the most common reasons for Double Vision that Comes and Goes:
1) Need for new glasses
2) Unstable tear film or dry eyes or Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
3) Cataract: can be even a mild change in the lens of the eye
4) Undiagnosed Diabetes
5) Diabetes with or without Macular edema
6) Glaucoma/ High eye pressure
7) Macular Degeneration
8) Other Macular issues (ie, inflammation, infection, previous trauma)
9) Other Optic Nerve issues (ie, inflammation, infection, previous trauma)
10) Rare tumors of eye, brain
1.B. If the Double Vision Is ALWAYS present, the most common causes are:
1. Glasses issue: need new Rx
2. Cataract
3. Cranial Nerve 6, 4, 3 anomalies
4. Muscle paralysis from an issue with a Cranial Nerve or damage to the muscle from previous trauma, surgery, scarring, tumor.
5. Diabetes causing a need for new glasses or a cranial nerve issue leading to a paralysis of the eye muscle (s): the blood vessels that supply blood to the nerves controlling the eye can be affected by diabetes.
6. Keratoconus: a degenerative condition of the eye that causes the cornea to thin and become cone-shaped.
7. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack that has damaged the muscles of the eye: depends on how old you are.
6. Thyroid issues causes ocular muscle enlargement: the thyroid gland is situated in the neck and produces a hormone called thyroxine. Changes in thyroid function can affect the external muscles that control the eye.
Convergence insufficiency: a condition where the eyes do not work together correctly. The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be due to the muscles that control the eye not lining up properly.
8. Aneurysm: an aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel. This can press on the nerve of the eye muscle.This is rare.
9. Grave’s disease: an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. The condition causes changes in the eyes that can lead to double vision, among other sight-related problems.
10. Myasthenia gravis: this condition can cause weakness in the body’s muscles, including those controlling the eyes.
11. Brain tumor/cancer: a tumor or growth behind the eye can interfere with free movement or damage the eye’s nerves.
12. Multiple sclerosis: a diseases that affects the central nervous system, including nerves that supply the eyes.
13. Head injury: obviously this is only likely if you have had a history of head injury which has caused physical damage of the brain, nerves, muscles, or eye socket which can restrict the movement of the eye and its muscles.
2.A. If it is only present when 1 eye is open, then the most common cause is:
1. Glasses issue: need new Rx
2. Cataract
3. Issue related to the one eye: glaucoma, nerve issues, macular issues, tumor in or around the eye/optic nerve.
4. Rarely a brain issue but possible.
2.B. If the double vision is only present when both eyes are open, then most common causes are:
1. Cranial Nerve 6, 4, 3 anomalies
2. Muscle paralysis from an issue with a Cranial Nerve or damage to the muscle from previous trauma, surgery, scarring, tumor.
3. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack that has damaged the muscles of the eye.
4. Tumor in brain, optic nerve or eye.
5. Glasses issue: need new Rx
6. Cataract
7. Diabetes causing a need for new glasses or a cranial nerve issue leading to a paralysis of the eye muscle (s): the blood vessels that supply blood to the nerves controlling the eye can be affected by diabetes.
8. Keratoconus: a degenerative condition of the eye that causes the cornea to thin and become cone-shaped.
9. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack that has damaged the muscles of the eye: depends on how old you are.
10. Thyroid issues causes ocular muscle enlargement: the thyroid gland is situated in the neck and produces a hormone called thyroxine. Changes in thyroid function can affect the external muscles that control the eye.
Convergence insufficiency: a condition where the eyes do not work together correctly. The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be due to the muscles that control the eye not lining up properly.
11. Aneurysm: an aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel. This can press on the nerve of the eye muscle.This is rare.
12. Grave’s disease: an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. The condition causes changes in the eyes that can lead to double vision, among other sight-related problems.
10. Myasthenia gravis: this condition can cause weakness in the body’s muscles, including those controlling the eyes.
13. Brain tumor/cancer: a tumor or growth behind the eye can interfere with free movement or damage the eye’s nerves.
14. Multiple sclerosis: a diseases that affects the central nervous system, including nerves that supply the eyes.
15. Head injury: obviously this is only likely if you have had a history of head injury which has caused physical damage of the brain, nerves, muscles, or eye socket which can restrict the movement of the eye and its muscles.