Doubles in one eye (monocular diplopia): causes and treatment methods

The dual image in the eyes is called diplopia. It can form, both in one eye, and in both. In the first case, the diagnosis is monocular diplopia. In the second - binocular. This pathology also has a vertical and horizontal manifestation. It can be treated with special drugs and gymnastics. In the most severe cases, surgery occurs.

List of reasons

When a person has a dual vision of objects, this means that his one eye does not fix the focus on the object in synchronism with the other.

The causes of diplopia are as follows:

  1. Weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in eye movement.
  2. The optic nerve is affected by an aneurysm.
  3. Head injuries leading to clause 1 and clause 2.
  4. Tumors and hematomas, due to which the eyeballs are not able to move freely.
  5. Intoxication with drugs or alcohol.
  6. Mental neurosis.
  7. The consequences of surgical treatment of the brain or eyes.

The condition when doubles in one eye can be permanent or temporary. In the second case, the symptoms disappear on their own. This usually occurs after the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Binocular and monocular pathology

These are two types of diplopia. The first is characterized as follows: when viewing an object with both eyes, its bifurcation is formed. It disappears if you close one eye.

The second view appears as follows: there is a forked picture in only one eye. And it does not disappear when the second is closed.

The scheme of binocular diplopia is as follows:

Binocular Diplopia Scheme

And its reasons are:

  1. Tumors in the orbit.
  2. Neurological pathology.
  3. Vascular disorders.
  4. Failures of the oculomotor muscles.
  5. Injuries and bruises.
  6. A sharp rise or decrease in intracranial pressure.

It also occurs when a person is sick:

  • pathologies of the nervous system, for example, meningitis or multiple sclerosis;
  • infectious ailments, examples - rubella, diphtheria, flu;
  • diabetes-based retinopathy;
  • vasculitis.
  • epilepsy, a brain tumor.

When doubling in one eye, there may be abnormalities of its cornea, retinal tissue or lens. Often patients with the effect of dry eyes complain about this condition.

The scheme of monocular duality is as follows:

Monocular Diplopia Scheme

Vertical and horizontal

Localization of the pathology determines the direction of the ghosting of the image. Two options are most common here: horizontal or vertical. There is another view - diagonal. But he is diagnosed extremely rarely.

In this matter, the form of the affected eye muscles is of decisive importance. So, if doubles in one eye horizontally, then the direct muscles are violated:

  1. Lower.
  2. Top.
  3. Lateral.
  4. Medial.

Clauses 1 and 2 are internal. Clauses 3 and 4 are external.

If doubles in one eye vertically, the pathology swept oblique muscles: lower or upper.

Both are internal.

The scheme of the presented muscle groups is as follows:

Muscle diagram of the eye

Treatment. General Provisions

In order for it to bring the proper effect, it is required to discover the real causes of diplopia.

If a connection is found with any ailment, the patient is sent to the appropriate specialist. For example, an endocrinologist and a neurologist. And an established course of treatment almost always leads to the elimination of the problem.

If the cause of diplopia is eye disease, then the patient is an ophthalmologist. The most serious pathologies are eliminated only by surgery.

If strabismus is detected, correction is performed using professional optics. If these methods do not bring the desired effect, the work of a surgeon is required, and the doctor changes the length of the eye muscle.

If doubles in one eye or both when looking at a long distance, then the accommodation of the lens is impaired.

When the pathology is caused by impaired cerebral circulation, nootropics and drugs to lower the pressure are used in the treatment. Based on the doctor’s testimony, a prismatic correction is organized. This procedure may have a similar effect associated with a decline in vigilance. To solve the problem, special visual gymnastics is prescribed.

The selection of glasses is based on personal specifics and diseases. This optics helps to combine a double picture into a single one.

Basic diagnostic methods

During the examination, the specialist determines:

  1. The nature of diplopia is vertical or horizontal.
  2. Is there a rotation of items.
  3. Quality of vision, light perception and refraction.
  4. Gait unsteadiness.
  5. Deviation of the eyes, parameters of their section, position and movement of the eyelids.

The doctor also sets the contrast and brightness of the image.

The main diagnostic methods are:

  • Cover Testing. Allows you to reveal hidden strabismus.
Cover testing
  • Ophthalmoscopy Special instruments are used, the vessels located in the fundus, the optic nerve and the macula are studied. In this procedure, the patient is in a supine position.
Ophthalmoscopy procedure
  • Coordinate measurement. For the procedure, use an ophthalmocordimeter device. In this way, the focus and nature of the disease, as well as the damaged muscle sector, are detected. Haab procedure. Helps identify bifurcation points.
  • Laboratory blood tests. With their help, the proportions of glucose are established. They are prescribed by the doctor when the patient suspects the presence of diabetes.
  • Examination of the brain using the MRI procedure. It helps to identify violations in its structure or circulatory problems.
  • Taking a proserin sample. His doctor prescribes for suspected myasthenia gravis.
  • Strabometry. Allows you to measure the angle of squint.
Strabometry Procedure

Treatment courses

The main task in the fight against diplopia lies in eliminating its causes. As a rule, the following therapeutic methods are used:

1. Occlusion. It is used when several nerves are affected at once, and volumetric perception (3D) is lost. During the procedure, one eye is “turned off". To do this, use special lenses or a very thin tape that does not transmit light. She glues on glasses glasses. The duration of treatment is determined by the attending specialist and the form of pathology.

2. Prismatic correction. It manifests itself in the wearing of glasses equipped with prisms. They deflect light rays and shift the image. Also, Fresnel prisms are often used - special overlays for glasses. They can be changed to similar devices with a different angle of refraction when the patient restores vision.

Prism glasses

3. Injections of botulinum. They are placed when monocular diplopia suddenly occurs to temporarily alleviate the condition. Botox is injected into injured muscles. For the procedure, local anesthesia is arranged. This method eliminates the formation of contractures.

4. The operational method. It is necessary in extremely severe cases. Allows you to restore the symmetry of the position of the eyes. The operation is carried out under general anesthesia. Its result is a fully restored vision.

If doubles in one eye, and this condition is a symptom of any disease, then therapeutic methods are aimed at combating them. So, for example, with infectious diseases antibiotics and immunomodulators are prescribed, with neuralgia - neuroprotectors and analgesics, with hematomas in the orbit - special creams and ointments, for example, Troxevasin, Fastum gel, etc.

To achieve the desired effect faster, the doctor prescribes special exercises to correct vision. They usually stimulate the muscles of the neck and eyes. With their help, the perception of binocular vision is trained. Their selection is based on an individual principle based on the type and format of the pathology. They bring the greatest effect in the fight against partial diplopia.

Complications

If diplopia is not treated, then over time the functions of the eyes are suppressed and vision is impaired, cataracts may occur. Therefore, you need to contact specialists in a timely manner to find out the causes of the bifurcation in the eyes and eliminate the harmful effects.

What is cataract - a disease in which the lens is overshadowed. This is one of the most important structural components of the eye. In normal condition, it is transparent. Through it without obstacles there are streams of light and are displayed on the retina. From her nerve, the picture follows the brain.

The simplest explanation of what a cataract is is a disease in which the lens becomes opaque and vision is seriously impaired. With complication, complete blindness may occur.

Lens clouding

The main symptom of this ailment is a condition when a person sees all objects through a misted glass. Other manifestations are as follows:

  1. Deteriorated visibility in the evening.
  2. Broken color identification.
  3. Doubling in the eyes.
  4. High sensitivity to bright lighting.

Cataract can only be cured by surgery. A cloudy lens is removed. Instead, a special transparent lens is inserted.

Doubling and dizziness

If they occur simultaneously, the reasons for this are:

  1. Sunstroke.
  2. Hunger.
  3. A sharp change in body position.
  4. Continuous load for vision (working at a computer, watching TV, etc.)
  5. The effect of psychotropic drugs.
  6. A sharp exit from the dark into bright light.
  7. Jumps in atmospheric pressure.

Diplopia in children

Diplopia in children

If a child sees the image ambivalently, he also needs to undergo a complete diagnosis of the whole organism without delay. And doctors must determine the cause of this condition.

Most often, bifurcation in children occurs due to:

  1. Circulatory disorders of the brain.
  2. Strabismus.
  3. Corneal metamorphosis.
  4. Nervous Disorders.
  5. The omission of the eyelids.
  6. Pathology of the lens.
  7. Disorders in the eye muscles.

Is monocular diplopia or its binocular variation treated in children quickly and effectively? Much depends on the responsiveness of the parents. If they pay attention to the child’s complaints of pain in the eyes, dizziness and other symptoms on time, they will immediately contact the doctor. Usually this is a pediatrician. And he already directs the patient for analysis, to an ophthalmologist and a neurologist.

The necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are carried out.

Double after alcohol

Alcohol and diplopia

After ingestion, alcohol moves through the vessels and narrows them. This also occurs in the oculomotor muscles and optic nerves. As a result, blood rushes worse to the eyes, a lack of oxygen is obtained, and a person begins to see the image darkened.

Due to narrowing of blood vessels, blood pressure rises in them. Small capillaries burst. As a result, the eyes turn red, itching and burning appear in them, as well as a bifurcation of the image.

Due to the toxic effects of alcohol, the eye muscles work inhibited and inconsistently. And the normalization of the state often occurs after the complete exit of alcohol from the body. If the pathology persists for a long period, the help of doctors is required.


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