Symptom: Double vision

Introduction: Double vision

Further information about Double vision is below, or review more specific information about these types of Double vision: Double Vision in Both Eyes, Double Vision in One Eye or other types.

Any type of vision loss (e.g. blindness, blurred vision, double vision, etc.) is a symptom of great concern. Many of the causes are very serious medical conditions. Certain types of vision changes can be a medical emergency where delay can lead to loss of sight (e.g. for causes such as glaucoma, eye injury, retinal detachment) or loss of life (e.g. for causes such as stroke, TIA, etc.). Even transient or temporary blindness or loss of vision cannot be ignored because it can result from serious conditions such as stroke, TIA, hypertension, epilepsy, or migraine. Seek immediate professional medical attention for any such symptoms of vision changes.

» Review Causes of Double vision: full list

Causes of Double vision:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Double vision. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Normal peripheral vision - most people can see double if they look to the extreme of the peripheral vision field.
• Head trauma
• Eye injury
• Brain injury
• Orbital fracture
• Cataracts
• Eye alignment disorder
• Internuclear opthalmoplegia
• Eye muscle disorder - and various underlying conditions that may affect eye muscle including:
  • Strabismus
  • Eye muscle paralysis (see Paralysis symptoms)
  • Diabetes - can weaken the eye muscles.
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Thyroid disorder
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Graves' disease
  • Dysthyroid eye disease
  • Ocular myopathy
  • Ocular myositis
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Brain tumor - may affect eye muscles
  • Brain aneurysm
• Eye nerve disorder
  • Cranial nerve palsy
  • Third nerve palsy - in some cases caused by an aneurysm
  • Cranial nerve lesion
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Recent dental anesthetic - may affect an eye's nerve.
• Brain conditions
  • Brain tumor

See full list of 125 causes of Double vision

» Review Causes of Double vision: full list

Causes of Types of Double vision:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Double vision:

• Double Vision in Both Eyes (29 causes)
• Double Vision in One Eye (12 causes)

More types of Double vision

Double vision: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Double vision, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Double vision: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Double vision and Vision changes (98 causes)
• Double vision and Visual problems (98 causes)
• Double vision and Vision distortion (96 causes)
• Double vision and Nerve symptoms (87 causes)
• Double vision and Sensations (86 causes)
• Double vision and Head symptoms (83 causes)
• Double vision and Eye symptoms (80 causes)
• Double vision and Pain (77 causes)
• Double vision and Impaired vision (74 causes)
• Double vision and Headache (59 causes)
• Double vision and Muscle weakness (55 causes)
• Double vision and Blurred vision (52 causes)
• Double vision and Face symptoms (51 causes)
• Double vision and Muscle symptoms (51 causes)
• Double vision and Digestive symptoms (49 causes)
• Double vision and Swelling symptoms (47 causes)
• Double vision and Behavioral symptoms (46 causes)
• Double vision and Death (43 causes)
• Double vision and Fatigue (43 causes)
• Double vision and Weakness (40 causes)

See full list of 1252 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Double vision

Home Diagnostic Testing and Double vision

Home medical tests possibly related to Double vision:

• Vision & Eye Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Eye Tests
  • Home Vision Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Vision changes (1313 causes)
• Vision distortion (1063 causes)
• Visual problems (1303 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Double vision

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Double vision:

• Blurred vision (511 causes)
• Peripheral vision loss (14 causes)
• Vision changes (1313 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Double vision

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Double vision from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Double vision. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Double vision

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic tests for Double vision:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Double vision. Some of these are listed below :

• Eye examination
  • Visual acuity
  • Visual fields
  • Look for associated proptosis (forward displacement of the eyeball). If bilateral may suggest hyperthyroidism from Graves disease. If unilateral
  • Look for associated chemosis (swelling of the conjunctiva), ecchymoses (bruising around the eye) or periorbital edema (swelling of the eyelids) which can suggest cavernous sinus thrombosis

See full list of 21 diagnostic tests for Double vision

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Double vision. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the double vision? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Is it unilateral or bilateral? - Unilateral double vision (i.e. double vision that persists when one eye is covered) is rare, but it can be encountered in dislocated lens (as associated with Marfan's syndrome), as well as in congenital double pupil, cataracts, astigmatism, corneal opacities and hysteria.
• Is the double vision intermittent or continuous? - Intermittent double vision may suggest myasthenia gravis or Eaton-Lambert syndrome.
• Are the two images side by side or one above the other? - Double vision is an early sign of eye muscle weakness and this question will help determine which eye muscles are weak e.g. if images are side by side the lateral or medial recti are responsible. If the images lie one above the other then superior or inferior oblique or superior or inferior recti may be involved.
• In which direction is there maximal image separation? - helps determine which pair of eye muscles are responsible. e.g. separation is greatest in the direction in which the weak muscle has its purest action.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Double vision (14 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Double vision) may include:

• Fever and chills? - may suggest orbital abscess, cavernous sinus thrombosis or rarely diphtheria.
• Headache? - may suggest brain stem tumor, cavernous sinus thrombosis associated with sinusitis, intracranial aneurysm or temporal arteritis.
• Symptoms of vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency? - e.g. nausea, vomiting, bilateral blurring of vision or blindness, double vision, dizziness and difficulty speaking.
• Symptoms of multiple sclerosis? - e.g. impaired vision, limb weakness, limb numbness or tingling, tremor of hands, dizziness.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Double vision (14 listings)

Stories from Users for Double vision

Real-life user stories relating to Double vision:

• Should I see a GI doc?
• What could this be? Should I see a doctor? Please help!
• Double
• Let's See If Anyone Knows This One!
• Episodes of double vision growing more frequent
• Seeing the 18th Doctor Tomorrow, still fatter...
• Various symptoms... should I see a doctor?
• do i need to see a neurologist
• Double vision,HIV
• Double vision and star-bursts
• Burnt fingertips - do I need to see a doctor?
• Double Vision - help me plzzzzzzzzzzzz!
• she's just faking it!! just ignore her! ..... truth is she truely couldnt see.
• Various symptoms... should I see a doctor?
• Should I see an endocrinologist??
• Everything in one
• seeing purple
• Double Vision / Dizzy
• Double Vision and Blurry Vision
• might be pregnant, took lots of diet pills, not gassy, can see moving, respondstopush

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Double vision or relevant symptoms:

• Eyes (218)
  • Sudden blackout in vision??
  • Halo around the streetlights, glaucoma or something else?
  • Flashers, floaters, and more
  • Seeing spots
  • Flashes of almost lightning type light with sound
  • More user stories
• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

Videos for Double vision

Patient Surveys for Double vision

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Double vision
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Medications or substances causing Double vision:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Double vision as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Recent dental anesthetic - may affect an eye's nerve.
• Neurotonin
• Phenobarbitone
• Methylphenobarbitone
• Primidone

See full list of 284 medications causing Double vision

Drug interactions causing Double vision:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Double vision as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Ritalin and Dilantin interaction
• Carbamazepine and Isoniazid interaction
• Carbamazepine and Levetiracetam interaction
• Carbamazepine and Metoclopramide interaction

See full list of 4 drug interactions causing Double vision

Definitions of Double vision:

Double vision: SYN: diplopia.
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

The condition in which a single object appears as two objects. Also called "double vision." (from medterms.com)
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Visual impairment in which an object is seen as two objects; "diplopia often disappears when one eye is covered"
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Organs affected by Double vision:

The list of organs typically affected by Double vision may include, but is not limited to:

• Brain
• Eyes

Detailed list of causes of Double vision

The list below shows some of the causes of Double vision mentioned in various sources:

• Abscess
• Accidental poisoning - e.g. accidental ingestion of antidepressant medications
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry - double vision
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 1 - double vision
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 2 - double vision

See full list of 125 causes of Double vision

How Common are these Causes of Double vision?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Double vision. Of the 125 causes of Double vision that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 3 causes are "very common" diseases
• 6 causes are "common" diseases
• 5 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 1 causes are "rare" diseases
• 6 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 114 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 125 causes of Double vision

Conditions listing symptoms: Double vision:

The following list of conditions have 'Double vision' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Double vision Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Double vision based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: