What causes diplopia (double vision)?

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From the Guidelines

Diplopia, or double vision, is primarily caused by misalignment of the eyes due to problems with the eye muscles or the nerves controlling them, with notable causes including recurrent, decompensated, or unresolved childhood strabismus, sensory strabismus, convergence insufficiency, and various other conditions 1.

Causes of Diplopia

The causes of diplopia can be diverse, ranging from issues with eye alignment to neurological conditions. Some of the key causes include:

  • Recurrent, decompensated, or unresolved childhood strabismus
  • Sensory strabismus
  • Convergence insufficiency
  • Divergence insufficiency
  • Sagging eye syndrome
  • Strabismus associated with high axial myopia
  • Graves’ disease
  • Orbital trauma
  • Strabismus associated with other ophthalmic surgery
  • 4th nerve palsy
  • Skew deviation
  • 6th nerve palsy
  • 3rd nerve palsy
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Fixation switch diplopia
  • Foveal misregistration (binocular central diplopia) 1

Diagnosis and Treatment

Accurate diagnosis of the etiology of strabismus in an adult requires expertise to recognize associated signs and symptoms and familiarity with studies that may confirm the diagnosis 1. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include corrective lenses, prism glasses, eye patches, eye muscle exercises, or surgery to realign the eye muscles 1. In cases related to neurological conditions, treating the primary condition is essential. Temporary relief can sometimes be achieved by covering one eye, though this doesn't address the root cause 1.

Quality of Life Considerations

Adult patients often have unique concerns associated with functional vision as well as psychosocial concerns that affect quality of life 1. The goals of treatment should be much broader and include sensory recovery when possible as well as gains in psychosocial and functional domains of vision-related quality of life 1. Success rates depend on the subpopulation studied and the goals of surgery, but overall they are approximately 80% after one procedure and may exceed 95% if a second procedure is performed on eyes failing the first intervention 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Patients with neuromuscular disorders may be at increased risk of clinically significant effects including generalized muscle weakness, diplopia, ptosis, dysphonia, dysarthria, severe dysphagia, and respiratory compromise from typical doses of JEUVEAU. The symptoms are consistent with the mechanism of action of botulinum toxin and may include asthenia, generalized muscle weakness, diplopia, ptosis, dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, urinary incontinence, blurred vision, and breathing difficulties.

Causas de diplopia: La diplopia puede ser causada por el efecto de la toxina botulínica más allá del sitio de inyección local, lo que puede incluir debilidad muscular generalizada, ptosis, disfagia, disfonía, disartria, incontinencia urinaria, visión borrosa y dificultades para respirar. También puede ocurrir en pacientes con trastornos neuromusculares que reciben dosis típicas de JEUVEAU 2.

From the Research

Cauze ale Diplopiei

Diplopia, sau vederea dublă, poate fi cauzată de diverse factori, atât binoculari, cât și monoculari.

  • Cauze binoculare:
  • Probleme de aliniere oculară, cum ar fi strabismul 3
  • Afecțiuni neurologice, cum ar fi paraliziile nervilor oculomotori, miopatiile oculare și tulburările de joncțiune neuromusculară 4, 5
  • Afecțiuni oculare, cum ar fi decompensarea unui strabism preexistent 5
  • Cauze monoculare:
  • Patologie intraoculară, cum ar fi erorile de refracție, anomaliile mediului ocular și uscăciunea ochilor 5, 6
  • Afecțiuni corticale, cum ar fi polioopia cerebrală și palinopsia, care pot apărea în contextul unor leziuni occipitale 6

Factori de Risc

Anumite condiții pot crește riscul de a dezvolta diplopie, cum ar fi:

  • Hipertensiunea intracraniană idiopatică (IIH), care poate cauza diplopie monoculară 5
  • Afecțiuni neurologice, cum ar fi migrena, care pot fi asociate cu polioopia cerebrală și palinopsia 6
  • Probleme de sănătate oculară preexistente, cum ar fi cataracta, eroarea de refracție și boala retiniană 6

Diagnostic și Tratament

Diagnosticul și tratamentul diplopiei depind de cauza subiacentă.

  • Examinarea oculară și neuro-oftalmologică poate identifica caracteristicile clinice ale diplopiei și poate ghida diagnosticul și tratamentul 5
  • Testele de imagistică și alte investigații pot fi necesare pentru a confirma diagnosticul și a exclude alte afecțiuni 4, 3
  • Tratamentul poate include corecția optică, intervenții chirurgicale sau terapii medicamentoase, în funcție de cauza și de gravitatea diplopiei 3, 6, 7

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Diplopia: Diagnosis and management.

Clinical medicine (London, England), 2022

Research

Diagnostic approach to diplopia.

Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.), 2014

Research

Monocular Diplopia in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Case Report and Literature Review.

European journal of case reports in internal medicine, 2021

Research

Double Vision.

Current treatment options in neurology, 2001

Research

[Acute Diplopia: Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Options].

Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde, 2017

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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