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What Causes Sudden Onset Of Double Vision?
Question: Hello:
I have sudden onset double vision. Side by side It started slowly and intermittently in October and occurs at different times of the day and in different lighting. Driving with bright lights facing me, at the theatre with certain lighting, watching TV (The news, yuke!)
I cover my left eye and the problem subsides. It is always a side by side double vision until on an occasional it was one image above another. That was one time.
I went firstly to my Optometrist , who I like an trust and he confirmed the problem and recommended an MD specialist . He did exactly what my Optometrist did and said "yes you have double vision". Then he said that , and this is a quote, "there is one cranial nerve in our bodies that all it does is control the muscles of our eyes."
I did not correct him nor did I persist with his opinion. He simple said i should go back to the Optometrist and get a prism put into my glasses and come back in a month and we will see if your cured. Needless to say I went back to the Optometrist who had already had new glasses waiting for me with prisms # 3.
When I wear them there great but without them I get the same double vision which is exactly the point of my going to the MD to find out WHY I am having the double vision to begin with. He did not do any kind of exam outside of the routine vision test, handed me a piece of paper with "prism 3 or 4." on it and said see you in a month and maybe I will think about doing a test or two. A month for some reason he expected some magic cure to occur . He made no mention of any idea of anything except maybe your eyes are getting old. What does that even mean? Do Dr.s actually get away with this crap (excuse me). I now have to go to another special (?) MD and start all over. In the meantime I am seeing or really noticing subltle changes in my thinking and memory and balance. I tend to, all of a sudden, veer to the left. My balance is off a bit and that veering is weird. What do you think a good MD would look for. Oh , also, I told this MD, not that he was listening, that 10 years ago I dissected my Carotid Artery (L) medial tear with a flap. I was treated medically ofourse and anti coagulated for a year. Follow up ultrasounds were freguent and healing was observed without complications nor sequelae. The rest of my family history was ignored so I just left frankly. He really did not care one way or the other. Actually turned his back if I spoke to him. I am not one to look for trouble and I am very healthy. Wit 110. 105/60 B/P Pulse normal rate and rhythm is normal sinus. What do you think? Where do I begin and what should I expect from a new doctor? I know this might be nothing but what if I am wrong?
Thank you for your time with this question. XXXXXXX Age 64 ICU/ CCU Nurse specialist.
I have sudden onset double vision. Side by side It started slowly and intermittently in October and occurs at different times of the day and in different lighting. Driving with bright lights facing me, at the theatre with certain lighting, watching TV (The news, yuke!)
I cover my left eye and the problem subsides. It is always a side by side double vision until on an occasional it was one image above another. That was one time.
I went firstly to my Optometrist , who I like an trust and he confirmed the problem and recommended an MD specialist . He did exactly what my Optometrist did and said "yes you have double vision". Then he said that , and this is a quote, "there is one cranial nerve in our bodies that all it does is control the muscles of our eyes."
I did not correct him nor did I persist with his opinion. He simple said i should go back to the Optometrist and get a prism put into my glasses and come back in a month and we will see if your cured. Needless to say I went back to the Optometrist who had already had new glasses waiting for me with prisms # 3.
When I wear them there great but without them I get the same double vision which is exactly the point of my going to the MD to find out WHY I am having the double vision to begin with. He did not do any kind of exam outside of the routine vision test, handed me a piece of paper with "prism 3 or 4." on it and said see you in a month and maybe I will think about doing a test or two. A month for some reason he expected some magic cure to occur . He made no mention of any idea of anything except maybe your eyes are getting old. What does that even mean? Do Dr.s actually get away with this crap (excuse me). I now have to go to another special (?) MD and start all over. In the meantime I am seeing or really noticing subltle changes in my thinking and memory and balance. I tend to, all of a sudden, veer to the left. My balance is off a bit and that veering is weird. What do you think a good MD would look for. Oh , also, I told this MD, not that he was listening, that 10 years ago I dissected my Carotid Artery (L) medial tear with a flap. I was treated medically ofourse and anti coagulated for a year. Follow up ultrasounds were freguent and healing was observed without complications nor sequelae. The rest of my family history was ignored so I just left frankly. He really did not care one way or the other. Actually turned his back if I spoke to him. I am not one to look for trouble and I am very healthy. Wit 110. 105/60 B/P Pulse normal rate and rhythm is normal sinus. What do you think? Where do I begin and what should I expect from a new doctor? I know this might be nothing but what if I am wrong?
Thank you for your time with this question. XXXXXXX Age 64 ICU/ CCU Nurse specialist.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Double vision may be related to several causes. The way you describe it is usually due to neurological conditions, due to the eyes not moving in synchrony with each other, as a result two separate images result (individually the eyes work fine which is why if you close one eye you see fine).
It may be due to lesions along different components of the pathway responsible for eye movement. So may be in the brain like stroke, lesion of the nerves which are responsible for eye movement (it is not one single nerve as you were told, there are 3 of them which control eye movement), may be due to conditions affecting the junction of the nerve and muscle like myasthenia gravis or disorders affecting the muscle like thyroid dysfunction.
So for its evaluation, if an eye origin has been excluded, a visit to a neurologist should be the next step. Neurologist will perform a neurological exam which may find other signs you've missed (apart from the balance and memory issue you speak about). Probably depending on the findings he/she will ask for some tests like a brain MRI.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Double vision may be related to several causes. The way you describe it is usually due to neurological conditions, due to the eyes not moving in synchrony with each other, as a result two separate images result (individually the eyes work fine which is why if you close one eye you see fine).
It may be due to lesions along different components of the pathway responsible for eye movement. So may be in the brain like stroke, lesion of the nerves which are responsible for eye movement (it is not one single nerve as you were told, there are 3 of them which control eye movement), may be due to conditions affecting the junction of the nerve and muscle like myasthenia gravis or disorders affecting the muscle like thyroid dysfunction.
So for its evaluation, if an eye origin has been excluded, a visit to a neurologist should be the next step. Neurologist will perform a neurological exam which may find other signs you've missed (apart from the balance and memory issue you speak about). Probably depending on the findings he/she will ask for some tests like a brain MRI.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for a very comprehensive and thoughtful answer to my concerns.
Among other things that he did or did not do, when he clearly and with a very sincere look on his face stated that there is ONE cranial nerve and all its job is is to more the eyes, I knew then this man was not taking the practice of medicine and the respect for an intelligent patient who could actually HEAR the nonsense he was saying. He was absent from the entire experience so we won't dwell on him.
I needed someone to direct me to the correct specialist. Ya know when you just get that feeling that something is off with your own body. Well that is what I am sensing. Little by little, small changes each day now.
I will take you advice, get out of this town and go back to University of XXXXXXX where I was trained and also treated for the Carotid Dissection, and find out what is going on. You have helped me sort through this. For this I thank you Dr. Taka.
Among other things that he did or did not do, when he clearly and with a very sincere look on his face stated that there is ONE cranial nerve and all its job is is to more the eyes, I knew then this man was not taking the practice of medicine and the respect for an intelligent patient who could actually HEAR the nonsense he was saying. He was absent from the entire experience so we won't dwell on him.
I needed someone to direct me to the correct specialist. Ya know when you just get that feeling that something is off with your own body. Well that is what I am sensing. Little by little, small changes each day now.
I will take you advice, get out of this town and go back to University of XXXXXXX where I was trained and also treated for the Carotid Dissection, and find out what is going on. You have helped me sort through this. For this I thank you Dr. Taka.
Brief Answer:
I hope nothing serious will turn out.
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome, glad to have been of help. I hope nothing serious will turn out.
I hope nothing serious will turn out.
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome, glad to have been of help. I hope nothing serious will turn out.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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