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What Causes Persistent Double Vision?
Question: (Dr. Olsi Taka to be answered)
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Good afternoon, I've made a question to you yesterday, (about seeing slight shadows/outlines around/beside things, and if it could be related to a brain tumor, though I made a brain scan 5 months ago and it was normal) and I appreciate your detailed answer, thank you. I'd like to ask you just one more thing, that's making me worried. My neurologist said that its almost impossible that a brain tumor could develop enough to cause double vision in 5 months (i guess she understood my shadows problem as double vision), but is it possible that these slight shadows around/beside things could be the start of a double vision, like the beggining of it? So in 5 months wouldnt be time enough for it to be big enough to cause me double vision itself, but only these slight shadows, as it would be still in the beggining? I'm afraid that these slight shadows could be a double vision in the beggining (as it still slight) caused by a tumor in the beggining (not big enough to cause a completely double vision, with two images), understand what I mean? I ask that because it looks like these shadows/outlines around/beside things follow the contour and the shape of them, but are not exactly a completely separated second image of the original (as in the double vision). Is it possible that a tumor in the beggining can cause this? Or, even if it was a really small one it would be making me see already two images, like a completely double vision, since the beggining? Im really worried about it and i dont know if what im asking makes sense or if im just overthinking (Im so worried i can't even sleep). Ps: I can read and write well, even with very small letters, and see things with details perfectly (like patterns and photographs or when I look in the mirror) without seeing these shadows... They appear more around/beside 3d objects, furniture and people. Sorry for the long question, and thank you again.
.
.
.
Good afternoon, I've made a question to you yesterday, (about seeing slight shadows/outlines around/beside things, and if it could be related to a brain tumor, though I made a brain scan 5 months ago and it was normal) and I appreciate your detailed answer, thank you. I'd like to ask you just one more thing, that's making me worried. My neurologist said that its almost impossible that a brain tumor could develop enough to cause double vision in 5 months (i guess she understood my shadows problem as double vision), but is it possible that these slight shadows around/beside things could be the start of a double vision, like the beggining of it? So in 5 months wouldnt be time enough for it to be big enough to cause me double vision itself, but only these slight shadows, as it would be still in the beggining? I'm afraid that these slight shadows could be a double vision in the beggining (as it still slight) caused by a tumor in the beggining (not big enough to cause a completely double vision, with two images), understand what I mean? I ask that because it looks like these shadows/outlines around/beside things follow the contour and the shape of them, but are not exactly a completely separated second image of the original (as in the double vision). Is it possible that a tumor in the beggining can cause this? Or, even if it was a really small one it would be making me see already two images, like a completely double vision, since the beggining? Im really worried about it and i dont know if what im asking makes sense or if im just overthinking (Im so worried i can't even sleep). Ps: I can read and write well, even with very small letters, and see things with details perfectly (like patterns and photographs or when I look in the mirror) without seeing these shadows... They appear more around/beside 3d objects, furniture and people. Sorry for the long question, and thank you again.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Sorry for answering a little late. I am on the road. Usually it would have been answered by a colleague but because I answered the first time the moderators left the question to be answered by me.
Now regarding your question, symptoms are subjective, meaning the same symptom may be described with different words by patients, so one can never say never. I must say that seeing contours is not a term I hear from my patients to describe diplopia though. Also there is not any distinction between objects in 3d or not. One other feature is that when you close one eye, the issue disappears, because it's a question of eyes not moving in unison, they see perfectly. So if the issue is when you close one eye as well it definitely is not diplopia.
In addition it is also the fact that you were seen by a neurologist that reassures me (should reassure you as well). Diplopia is not an isolated symptom not in the case of a brain tumor at least (may by in stroke or muscular diseases). Apart from the classical headache and vomiting usually there are other subtle symptoms which are evidenced in the neurological exam, amplitude of eye movements, changes in the reflexes, pathological reflexes etc.
So the whole doesn't really sound like the beginning of a brain tumor added to that the fact of having imaging 5 months ago, I am much more prone to have to say that you are overthinking this one.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Sorry for answering a little late. I am on the road. Usually it would have been answered by a colleague but because I answered the first time the moderators left the question to be answered by me.
Now regarding your question, symptoms are subjective, meaning the same symptom may be described with different words by patients, so one can never say never. I must say that seeing contours is not a term I hear from my patients to describe diplopia though. Also there is not any distinction between objects in 3d or not. One other feature is that when you close one eye, the issue disappears, because it's a question of eyes not moving in unison, they see perfectly. So if the issue is when you close one eye as well it definitely is not diplopia.
In addition it is also the fact that you were seen by a neurologist that reassures me (should reassure you as well). Diplopia is not an isolated symptom not in the case of a brain tumor at least (may by in stroke or muscular diseases). Apart from the classical headache and vomiting usually there are other subtle symptoms which are evidenced in the neurological exam, amplitude of eye movements, changes in the reflexes, pathological reflexes etc.
So the whole doesn't really sound like the beginning of a brain tumor added to that the fact of having imaging 5 months ago, I am much more prone to have to say that you are overthinking this one.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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