Dealing with eye problems can be scary, especially when experiencing double vision. That is why we are here to give a detailed guide to various types and causes of double vision.
TYPES OF DIPLOPIA
The classification of double vision can be either monocular or binocular.
MONOCULAR DIPLOPIA: Monocular diplopia is the most common and typically the least severe type. It occurs when double vision persists, even when one eye is closed or covered. It may manifest as shadows in your vision.
BINOCULAR DIPLOPIA: It is usually more severe than monocular diplopia. It involves experiencing double vision when both eyes are open, although it disappears when one eye is covered or closed. The common cause of binocular diplopia is the misalignment of the eyes (strabismus)
However, based on where the doubled images appear in the vision and the health conditions affecting vision, Diplopia can also be categorized as vertical or horizontal.
Vertical diplopia entails seeing extra images above or below your true vision, while horizontal diplopia involves seeing doubled images side by side.
CAUSES OF DOUBLE VISION (DIPLOPIA)
1) Fatigue: a person can experience double vision when tired; this makes the brain unable to fuse the images seen by both eyes. The same thing occurs in hunger, migraines, thirst, and malnutrition.
2) Severe head injury: injury caused by a fall or heavy blow may damage eye nerves and muscles or affect the eye alignment of one or both eyes.
3) Alcohol intoxication: alcohol intake can result in double vision because alcohol is a depressant, and it weakens eye, brain, and muscle coordination.
4) Some medications: certain drugs, especially some antibiotics like fluoroquinolone, have side effects like nausea and visual disturbances (double vision)
5) Refractive errors: Errors of refraction like myopia, Hyperopia, and astigmatism in high amounts can cause double vision.
6) Binocular problems: strabismus, known as misaligned eyes ( half past four eyes), can cause double vision.
7) Cataracts: an eye condition where the lens in the eyes is clouded can cause double vision.
8) Irregularities of the cornea like keratoconus (bulging of the cornea) and abnormalities in the iris (colored part of the eyes)
9) Poorly fitted contact lenses or spectacles (glasses).
10) Dry eye syndrome.
Visit TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako, Abuja, as soon as you or anyone around you notice any changes in your vision.
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