Vertical Double Vision

[WorriedinVancouver]

Since roughly my last trimester before my son's birth in November 2006 (yes, you read right) I've had vertical double vision/ghosting in both eyes...At first it was intermittent, and I went to an optometrist this time last year & got new glasses w/ prisms for the diplopia...Since the summer it's gotten much worse & in the fall it became more prevalent--since then it's been all the time & most noticeable w/ objects at a distance...I went to see my GP in November 2007 who referred me to an eye physician who was unable to find anything...He referred me to an orthoptic clinic who ruled out (eye) muscle problems...I went to the ER recently for a bad headache that had lasted over 36 hours which was unusual for me--no tests done despite my disclosing the history, they figured it was a migraine, gave me a shot of Imitrex (which didn't help) & sent me on my way...I went back to my GP who has since arranged for me to see a neuro-opthalmologist on the 18th & is trying for me to get a CT angiography done beforehand (he speculated that I may have had a mini-stroke or that an aneurysm is leaking, putting pressure on something)...The double vision has become more pronounced and driving is becoming more difficult (where the ghosting used to be slight in some cases I am now seeing 2 separate objects that merge closer together as I draw nearer)...What types of conditions cause this sort of thing?  I spend many nights awake worrying about possible bad scenarios and am trying to maintain a positive attitude...
Thanks so much for your time!

[Nancy T]

Actually, I don't know if there was anything "special' about them except that they are apparently just very strong reading glasses. I can't tell you the exact prescription (which might not be relevant anyway, I don't know). If you are having this problem I am sorry to hear it. I still have the problem to this day and still need the strong reading glasses. When I am tired (sleep-deprived), I have the ghosting much worse even when I'm not reading.

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

-

[singhsaurabh2001]

nancy can you please give some details about your special reading glasses

[Nancy T]

Put "shadow letters after reading" in the search box and it should bring up my post about vertical ghosting, with several suggestions by Dr. Hagan.

Your symptoms do not sound exactly like mine, but perhaps you will find something useful in the doctor's reply.

I get vertical ghosting (not true double vision) whenever I read continuously for more than a couple of minutes looking down. I also get it when I'm very tired--without reading.

Saw an ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist who had never heard of this, but gave me special reading glasses which prevent the problem.

Be sure to let us know what you find out, OK?

Nancy T.