vertical double vision

I was reading about a couple people that have had vertical double vision...my daughter just turned 16 and has had this off and on now for a little over a year.  We have been to an opthamologist and a neuro-opthamologist and they can't find anything.  She just recently had an MRI done and nothing there.  Her general practice dr said she may grow out of it.  She is very concerned as she is now going for her license.  Is there something else we should be checking?  She reads alot and watches DVD's, but it just happened in church Sunday and she wasn't doing anything.   She read something on it somewhere that it could be liver or heart related??  Any ideas?

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

First be thankful that the tests did not turn up some horrible disease like a brain tumor or aneurysm.  Heart and liver problems don't cause this.  

I would suggest you see a strabismus-pediatric ophthalmologist. Your present ophthalmologists would probably be happy to get another opinion. Or you can go to www.aao.org and find one near you.

JCH III MD

[Nancy T]

If she has seen an ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist, and had an MRI, and they still can't explain it, my guess is that they probably never will be able to explain it. I saw the same kind of specialists and they can't explain why I get vertical ghosting (not true double vision) when I read looking down, or when I'm very tired.

Has she noticed anything in particular that brings on her double vision?

Does it go away when she covers one eye?

How long does it last when she gets it?

Does it prevent her from reading, driving, etc.?

Did the eye specialists also tell you that she might "grow out of it"?

Strange but true: there are many things people experience that the doctors can't explain (not their fault). You have seen the right specialists and gotten the MRI. I don't know of anything else you  might try. I did get reading glasses (from the ophthalmologist) that prevent me from getting the vertical ghosting when I read. (I am 50, nearsighted and presbyopic too.)

Best of luck to your daughter.

Nancy T.