Key Takeaways
- Seeing 2 overlapping images may be associated with how your eyes are working together.
- Your overall health can influence the delicate nerves and muscles around your eyes.
- Noticing physical changes alongside double vision is important, as sudden onset double vision may indicate an eye emergency.
- Custom glasses and targeted therapies can offer support.
- Tracking daily visual shifts gives our team helpful details for your evaluation.
At Airdrie Family Eye Doctors, we know that seeing 2 overlapping images can be confusing. Maybe you see 2 of the same street sign, or maybe there are double the words on a page than there should be. It’s common to wonder what may be happening and how an eye doctor could help.
Double vision can occur for several reasons, including eye alignment problems, certain eye conditions, and issues affecting how light is focused within the eye and how your eyes are working together. Your eyes are trying to send a single image to your brain, but when something disrupts that alignment, your brain receives mixed signals, resulting in double vision.
Refractive Errors and Eye Alignment
A refractive error happens when your eyes don’t focus light properly onto the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye). It can happen for a few reasons, but refractive errors are an issue with how light enters the eye. An alignment issue is more about how your eyes coordinate together to look at the same point.
Issues with Eye Coordination
Your brain occasionally fails to combine 2 separate images into 1 clear picture. This could be due to one eye being favoured, which can prevent your eyes from working together in harmony. This type of issue can often be detected during a comprehensive eye exam, and some eye coordination problems may benefit from vision therapy.
Problems with Light Focus
Uncorrected astigmatism happens when your cornea (the clear outer layer of your eye) is shaped unevenly. This can distort your field of view by bending incoming light at uneven angles. Because of that, you may notice ghosting, shadowing, or symptoms that can resemble double vision when reading or looking at fine detail.
That’s where a prescription for glasses or contacts comes in: Vision correction options can adjust how light enters your eye so you see clearly and comfortably.
Other Conditions and Double Vision
Your overall health plays a large role in how you see the world, so it’s helpful to know that sometimes health conditions can cause double vision.
Cloudy Lenses and Cornea Issues
Cataracts can happen when the clear lens inside your eye gets cloudy, usually with age. This can scatter the light entering your eye and distort your vision, which can cause that double vision effect.
Some cases of dry eye can disrupt your tears to the point that the surface of your eye becomes uneven. That means light has a difficult time focusing smoothly, and may cause some cases of temporary double or blurred vision.
If you have dry eye, you don’t have to deal with it alone. Our team can recommend specialized drops or professional dry eye therapy to help restore moisture to your daily routine.
Nerve and Muscle Weakness
Some thyroid conditions can impact the muscles around your eyes and restrict their normal movement. Diabetes can sometimes affect the nerves that control eye movements, which may contribute to double vision. Our team can evaluate these connected symptoms during a comprehensive visit.
Red Flags and Extra Symptoms
If you notice double vision, try to pay attention to how your body feels, as some physical symptoms can point your medical team in the direction of a diagnosis.
Physical Alert Signs
If your double vision is accompanied by any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to seek prompt care:
- Headache, dizziness, difficulty walking, or other neurological symptoms.
- Unusual fatigue or pressure around your face happens after reading for short periods.
- Sudden weakness in muscles near your eyes that limits how far you look side to side.
Changes in Your Sight
If you experience any of the following symptoms, it’s important to seek eye care immediately:
- A visual change that looks like a curtain falling over your field of view.
- Loss of clear vision in 1 or both eyes without warning.
- Images that appear stacked 1 above the other confuse your depth perception.
- Sudden onset double vision or sudden onset eye turns.
These symptoms can indicate a serious eye or neurological condition and should be evaluated immediately by an eye care professional or emergency medical provider.
Care from an Eye Doctor
Our team is here to evaluate your eyes and provide you with personalized, thorough care moving forward.
Corrective Lenses and Prescriptions
If you have a refractive error, glasses fitted to your prescription can help you see more clearly and comfortably. We have a wide selection of quality eyewear in durable materials designed to withstand day-to-day wear.
Therapy and Eye Exercises
If you have an eye teaming problem, there are targeted activities that can encourage your eyes to work together as a team. Our eye doctor in Airdrie can guide you or your loved one through comfortable vision therapy routines that you practice at home. These exercises are designed to improve how the eyes work together and coordinate visual tasks over time.
First Steps If You Have Double Vision
If you notice double vision, don’t panic. Try to notice if your vision changes are accompanied by any other symptoms, and make a plan from there. If you aren’t sure, don’t hesitate to call us. We can listen to your concerns and make a plan from there.
Schedule Your Appointment
At Airdrie Family Eye Doctors, we are committed to providing a welcoming environment for your whole family to discuss their visual health. Our friendly team values trust and service that put your needs and those of your loved ones first. If you’re experiencing double vision, we encourage you to book your vision assessment today.
