Double vision: understanding causes of double vision

Eyesight is a precious gift that’s relied on every day, for tasks big and small. From pouring morning coffee to driving to work, eyes play a crucial role in navigating the world.

However, for some, eyes struggle to keep up with the demand, resulting in blurred or double vision by the end of the day.

In recognition of Low Vision Awareness Month in February, the importance of acknowledging visual impairments is emphasized, that extends beyond traditional corrective measures like glasses, contacts, medicine or surgery.

For some, reading or performing close work can cause headaches, blurred or even double vision. There are many causes for these symptoms, but, sometimes, it is a matter of the eye muscles not being strong enough to perform these tasks for as long as needed.

Double vision or diplopia, can present in different forms, including side-by-side, overlapping or diagonal images. Fatigued eye muscles struggle to coordinate, resulting in blurred or doubled vision. This fatigue may also trigger headaches, when the eyes exert themselves excessively.

Impaired nerve or muscle function can lead to the splitting of images. This condition, common in individuals with Parkinson’s disease or children with coordination difficulties, hampers the eyes’ ability to focus together, particularly on nearby objects.

After trauma, like neurosurgery or concussion, one eye may tire and drift outward, when trying to focus on an object, leading to blurred or double vision.

Prolonged screen exposure can strain the eyes, resulting in blurred vision, diplopia or headaches. This has contributed to a rise in diagnoses of convergence insufficiency and diplopia in recent years.

“When children struggle with close tasks like reading or homework, it can interfere with their learning process,” said Amanda Whipple, low vision occupational therapist. “Similarly, adults may encounter difficulties reading labels at the grocery story, managing their medications or paying their bills, affecting their daily routines.”

To combat these challenges, low vision rehabilitation offers promising solutions. It can help retrain the eyes and brain to work together more efficiently, strengthening visual pathways and enhancing daily tasks, like reading, writing and driving.

A doctor should be consulted before participating in low vision therapy, ensuring the eyes are healthy and ready for rehabilitation.