What is the differential diagnosis for monocular diplopia (uniocular diplopia)?

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Differential Diagnosis for Uniocular Diplopia

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

  • Refractive error: This is the most common cause of uniocular diplopia, often due to astigmatism, cataracts, or other conditions affecting the lens or cornea, leading to irregular light refraction.

Other Likely Diagnoses

  • Cataract: A cataract can cause uniocular diplopia by altering the way light enters the eye, leading to distorted or double vision.
  • Keratoconus: This condition, characterized by a conical deformation of the cornea, can lead to significant visual distortion, including uniocular diplopia.
  • Astigmatism: Irregular curvature of the cornea or lens can cause light to focus on two points rather than one, resulting in double vision.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

  • Retinal detachment: Although less common, retinal detachment can cause sudden onset of uniocular diplopia and is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
  • Vitreous detachment: Similar to retinal detachment, a vitreous detachment can lead to sudden symptoms, including uniocular diplopia, and requires prompt evaluation.

Rare Diagnoses

  • Iridocorneal endothelial syndrome: A rare condition affecting the iris and cornea, which can lead to glaucoma, cataract, and uniocular diplopia among other symptoms.
  • Chalazion or other eyelid lesions: Although rare, significant eyelid lesions can occasionally cause mechanical interference with vision, leading to uniocular diplopia.
  • Optic neuropathy: Certain conditions affecting the optic nerve can result in uniocular diplopia, though this is less common and usually accompanied by other visual disturbances.

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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