Ghost images in right eye

[al78]

Trying to figure out what's going on here.  I'm 28 and I've been experiencing ghost visions in my right eye for the better part of the year now, and the glasses don't seem to help much.  I'm seeing a real image, and a distorted, ghost image slightly down and to the right of it.  It's especially noticeable with a silhouette, like a bird in the sky or a traffic light.  Some days it's better and some days it's worse, but at least some distortion is always there.  Far off in the distance, in bright light, it's always there, but when I look at the computer screen, sometimes the ghosting of the letters is there and sometimes it's not.  It's better when I just wake up, worse toward the end of the day.  

I had glasses made about a year ago when I first noticed it, but they didn't help much.  I've finally decided to go to an eye doctor two days ago.  He ruled out cataracts, keratokonus and glaucoma.  Said that I have very slight astigmatism in my eye that wasn't corrected for in the glasses, but he says it's so silght that it is not the cause of the ghost images.  He prescribed Patanol and said to come back in 4 weeks.  So far -- it's been two days -- the eyedrops aren't helping at all.  

Couple of other things: About two months ago, I had a CT scan of the head and a blood test done because I experienced dizziness and nausea.  The cause turned out to be a sinus infection, but no other problems have been turned up.  Also -- and I have no idea whether this has any significance -- the doctor told me I have large pupils.  

Anyway, does anyone have any idea what might be causing the ghosting?  And, if Patanol ends up not helping, what should I ask my doctor about?  Any specific tests I should ask done?  Any specific disorders to test for?

Thanks.

[Jimmy1234566]

So...did this issue get resolved?  I'm having double vision in one eye, which starts okay in the morning and progressively gets worse.

[JohnHaganMD]

This discussion is from 2014

[KayakerNC]

Actually, I agree with your defense of DOs vs MDs.
My surgery was done 2 months ago, and my ophthalmologist is a DO.  I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

[agamemnons_fury]

my bad, I have had to explain the difference between an MD and a DO a lot recently and i was having issues with ghost images in both of my eyes so I kinda launched in to my explanation reflexively. But your right now that I have rested my eyes I see what I was mistaken

[KayakerNC]

Maybe you should read Dr Hagan's almost 7 year old post again, because you obviously don't know the difference between a DO and an OD.

[agamemnons_fury]

just so you know a "DO" can take both the COMLEX and the USMLE and in fast most do, but an "MD" can only take the USMLE. Not to mention that both are licensed by the state and both have to take the same boards. So saying that a "DO" is some how less of a physician that an "MD" is unfounded. The main difference, aside from the fact that a "DO" also has to learn osteopathic manipulation is that a "DO" is trained to treat the patient as a person and to look at them as a whole. Where as an "MD" is trained to look at you as a collection of symptoms. The "MD" treats the disease, the "DO" treats the person.

This is not to say that one is any better than the other, it depends on what you are looking for in a health care provider

[monishas]

even i am suffering from the same problem for my right eye. doctor suggested me  some drops and treatment to further grow but there is no cure for the already existing ghost image.  is there any operation anywhere in the country to get rid of my ghost image? it hurts me most of the time.

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

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[Mik427]

If it's affecting only one eye, look into central serous chorioretinopathy - a disorder I have caused by fluid behind the retina.  I have an image - a blob that I see when I close my eye and distorted/clouded view with that eye.  Caused by hypertension apparently.

[Nancy T]

Hi Suren. I have seen quite a few people post about this problem, some who have seen multiple doctors (including ophthalmologists) over the years, and who never got an answer. Neither did I. I still have the ghosting and still no explanation.

It's really puzzling that if it's a corneal problem--a refractive problem--why does it occur, or get worse, when a person is very tired or later in the day??

Nancy

[ssurenr]

Hi,
This is Suren. I also have the exact same problem in my right eye. As soon as wake up no problem. But as my day progresses, it happens. I consulted a doctor and says my eyes are super normal. But this still happens. My eyes get very tired by the ghost image.

Hope we'll get some clue why this happens!

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

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[Nancy T]

I have similar ghosting (except the ghost image is above the real one) in BOTH eyes separately, and an ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist weren't able to tell me why. Only that it's a refractive problem, and they gave me some special reading glasses (since it happens after I've been reading continuously for a few minutes while looking down).

Interesting that yours occurs when you're tired. ME TOO--in fact, although normally my ghosting occurs after reading looking down, it will occur spontaneously when I'm very tired (sleep-deprived).

I don't understand why that would be the case if it's a corneal problem.

My opthalmologist also told me that my astigmatism was not sufficient to be causing this problem.

I did not have any tests such as corneal topography.

Good luck getting to the bottom of things, and please let us know what you find out.

I do have various other odd symptoms, was told MS at one point, then told it's not. However, the neurologists never knew about the ghosting thing, since it started after I was through with the neuros (or they were through with me).

Nancy T. (51 years old, ghosting began maybe 5 years ago)

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

First if your "eye doctor" is not a physician Eye MD ophthalmologist you are not getting the care your eye deserves. If you are seeing an Optom non MD non physician limited care limited training person leave and see an Eye MD.

Now assuming you are seeing an Eye MD I have no idea why patanol would help as it is a drop for allergy.

You need a corneal topography and a trial fitting of rigid gas permeable contacts to rule out irregular astigmatism as the cause of your problem.

I can't emphasize enough that if you are seeing an "OD" instead of a "MD" then you hae not really been properly examined. You can find an eye MD at www.aao.org

JCH IIIIMD