What are the causes of monocular diplopia (double vision in one eye)?

From the Research

Causes of Monocular Diplopia

The causes of monocular diplopia can be attributed to various factors, including:

• Intraocular pathology, such as refractive errors, ocular media abnormalities, and dry eyes 1
• Ocular disorders, including errors in the optical media of the eye 2
• Refraction, aberration, pupillary, retinal, and neurogenic diplopia 3
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) can also present with monocular diplopia 1

Characteristics of Monocular Diplopia

Monocular diplopia is characterized by:

• Persistence of double vision when the other eye is closed 2
• Disappearance of double vision when the patient looks through a pinhole 2
• Absence of change in image position when the head is tilted, which may indicate a non-organic etiology 2

Differential Diagnoses

Differential diagnoses of monocular diplopia should consider various ocular and neurological conditions, including:

• Binocular diplopia, which is secondary to ocular misalignment 4
• Neurological diseases, such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension 1
• Ophthalmological conditions, such as refractive errors and ocular media abnormalities 1, 2