Double Vision (Diplopia) Treatment

Developing double vision that lasts more than a couple minutes feels scary. When it happens, get it checked out right away. The doctors at Eye Physicians in New York City offer exceptional emergency eye care for just such situations. They have the best diagnostics too so they can develop the perfect treatment for double vision for you. Double vision, called diplopia, may respond quickly to very little treatment of diplopia, or you may need more extensive double vision treatment. Call your eye doctor now to get the best diplopia treatment in NYC.

What Is Diplopia?

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Seeing two images when there should only be one is commonly called double vision. Diplopia is the medical term for seeing double. When you have double vision, you may see two images that are vertical, diagonal or side by side. Diplopia is usually a temporary problem, but in some cases, it’s a sign of a serious underlying issue. It can affect people of all ages but is most common among people over the age of 60.

Seeing double can be disturbing and it’s one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits. See a reputable and experienced optometrist right away if you have double vision or other signs of eye problems that concern you. For double vision treatment and the best comprehensive eye care in downtown Manhattan, visit Eye Physicians.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms that I May Need Treatment of Double Vision?

Diplopia is divided into two categories, which are monocular diplopia and binocular diplopia. Monocular diplopia is the most common category of diplopia and usually the least serious. It affects just one eye and symptoms continue even when the other eye is covered. Symptoms of binocular diplopia only happen when both eyes are open. The main symptom of double vision is seeing two images of an object at the same time when you know there should only be one, but there may be other symptoms such as:

Some people with diplopia experience pain when moving their eyes. Double vision can affect depth perception making it difficult to walk or drive, which may cause loss of balance. If you have double vision, you may experience symptoms constantly or your symptoms may come and go. In some people, symptoms develop gradually while in other people, they develop suddenly.

Children with double vision may not know how to explain what’s wrong. See a pediatric eye doctor at Eye Physicians for diplopia treatments in Downtown Manhattan if you notice signs of possible double vision such as covering one eye, squinting or looking at objects from an unusual angle.

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What Causes Double Vision?

Seeing normally requires your eye muscles, nerves and your brain to all work together. Issues with any of these can lead to double vision.

Causes of monocular double vision usually come from the eye itself, not from any type of neurological problem and include:

  • Dry eyes
  • Astigmatism
  • Infections such as herpes zoster or shingles
  • Problems with the lens of the eye, such as cataracts
  • Drinking too much alcohol

Binocular double vision sometimes has more serious causes.

Some of the more serious causes of binocular diplopia include:

  • Problems with the cranial nerve
  • Misaligned eyes
  • Stroke
  • Brain aneurysm
  • Migraine headache
  • Head trauma or damage to an eye socket from a black eye
  • Brain tumor

Monocular diplopia can usually be diagnosed with an eye examination, Link to Eye Exam/Eye Test/Vision Test which involves checking the health of your eyes and patterns of eye movement along with the alignment of your eyes. Your eye doctor asks questions such as whether your symptoms worsen if you change your head position. To diagnose binocular diplopia, your NYC best-in-class ophthalmologist may order an imaging test such as an MRI or CT scan to capture images of the eyes and the area around them.

Page Updated on Apr 14, 2025 by Eye Physicians

Eye Physicians
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New York, NY 10013
(212) 292-4814

Why Choose Eye Physicians?

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER

The content provided on this website serves educational purposes only and should not be considered a replacement for informed professional advice. It does not substitute for consulting with an optometrist or any other health and medical expert. If you have questions related to your specific situation, please reach out to an eye health professional.