Double vision (diplopia) is a symptom to be taken with utmost seriousness. Several double vision causes are fairly small whereas others require prompt medical assistance.
Double vision causes
Malfunctioning of any component of the vision system like cornea, lens, extralocular eye muscles, nerves conveying ocular info from eyes to brain or the brain (location where numerous parts process ocular info from the eyes) could be contributory to diplopia or double vision.
Corneal Issues
Corneal problems could be one of the double vision causes solely affecting a single eye. Double vision subsides when the affected part is covered. The affected eye surface is observed to distort inward bound light that causes diplopia. Harm could occur in numerous ways:
- Corneal infections like shingles or herpes zoster could be causal to corneal distortion.
- A rare complication due to lasik surgical procedure could cause alteration in one cornea which creates uneven ocular imagery.
Lens Issues
Cataract is a widespread issue affecting the lens that could cause diplopia. In case cataract has affected both the eyes then there would be equal distortion in images in both these eyes. Cataract is rectified employing minor surgical procedure.
Eye muscle Issues
In case there is weakening in one eye muscle then that eye fails in having smooth movement along with the normally healthy eye. When one gazes in courses that are being directed by the weakened muscle then it causes double vision. Eye muscle issues could arise due to the numerous causes:
- Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune ailment which obstructs eye muscle stimulation from nerves within the skull. The preliminary symptoms are mostly droopy eyelids (ptosis) and double vision.
- Graves’ disease is a thyroid disorder which causes weakening of eye muscles. This condition is contributory to vertical diplopia wherein images overlap one another.
Nerve Issues
Numerous varying disorders could harm nerves and could be one of the double vision causes.
- Multiple sclerosis is a condition could inflict nerves located in spinal cord or brain. In case of nerves that control the eyes face damage then diplopia could be consequence.
- Guillain-Barre syndrome is a nerve disorder which leads to advancing weakness as the foremost indications occurring in the eyes and causes double vision.
- Unregulated diabetes could cause damage to the nerves present in one of the eyes leading to ocular weakness and double vision.
Brain Issues
Nerves which control the eyes have direct connection to the brain. Additional ocular processing occurs within the brain. Several varying reasons for double vision originating in the brain are due to:
- Stroke.
- Aneurysm.
- Heightened brain pressure due to some traumatic episode, blood loss or infections.
- Brain tumor.
- Migraines.
