Vertical Double Vision - Someone help please

  I am a 20 year old male. I am having a hard time everyday just seeing because I see doubles of everything. When I look at a text, for example--A B 1 2 3, it looks like this:

A B 1 2 3
A B 1 2 3

  One image is on top of the other. This is very uncomfortable for me and I can't read books without squinting my eyes to hide the top image.

  I've visited two eye doctors. They both specialized in vision and they had their own clinics. However, they could not tell me what was wrong with my eyes.

  I am planning to visit some other doctors but I've read some posts by others who took all kinds of examinations but couldn't find the solution. I don't have medical insurance and I don't want to waste too much money.
  So I'm just posting here if anyone knows about this problem.

  Some information about me you should know is:

- I've been wearing soft contacts for astigmatism for five years.

- I'm on computer most of the time. (I've head something about Computer Vision Syndrome. I dont know if I'm related to it.)

- I've hit my head hard with a blunt object and I was rushed to ER because I was bleeding so much. This was about 9 months ago.

-Double vision goes away when I look through a pinhole on a paper or when I squint.

-Double vision is sometimes goes away. But it's there most of the time.

-Double vision is there even when I wear glasses. (And this prescription is confirmed by the two eye doctors.)

Where should I go and how can I fix this?

Thank you for your time.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If you have your glasses or contacts on and you see double with both eyes but if you cover or shut one eye the doubling goes away then that is true double vision.

HOWEVER if you cover one eye and still see the doubling then that is not true double vision but monocular diplopia or "ghosting".

The first type is due to eye muscle problems and you should see a pediatric/strabisums Eye MD.

The latter in your case is likely due to warping of the cornea due to your contacts and you should see a cornea specialist Eye MD.  You likely will need to stop wearing contacts for a couple of months to let the cornea return to a normal shape from the warpage the contact can and often do cause.

JCH MD

[doublelight]

I have similar condition to Boom who you responded. The difference is i see double as light to dark depending what is above. With letters i will see verticle double with the second reflection light grey in color and having a smear affect blending back to the original image. If the image is close or big, it will overlap. This condition is magnafied at night with colors. The farther the object, the more seperated the image. Comes together as i get closer. I have known this since i was 13 years of age and am 47 now. Did the doctor visits and was seen by three all doing the same test and had no idea. I was scheduled to another and gave up and cancealed. My vision is 20-15 and have no headaces. I am concern now because this condition is causing street signs to double letters and becomes scrambled if there is two rows of words. Your feed back would be appreciated if i am to persue and know what questions to ask before paying my fees.
Thank You

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Having the condition for 44 years its not likely progressive, not serious and likely not need any treatment. IF you want to pursue a work up I suggest you see a neuroophthalmologist. Find one at www.aao.org

JCH MD