double vision

[dvepisodes]

Hi,

I am a 35 year old healthy female. Beginning in September 2009 I had an episode of double vision (lasting about 10 seconds). I have no other symptoms other than the double vision. Since then I've had this occur about once a month and then over the Christmas holidays about twice a day for five days. When I cover either eye it goes away and lasts only about ten seconds. Returning after the holidays, it stopped occuring as regularly although I have had one or two episodes since Christmas (when guests visited from out of town). It seems to occur at times of stress and/or when I haven't been sleeping well or had a few drinks. I saw an ophthalmologist, a neuro-ophthalmologist, had blood work done to test thyroid, etc. as well as a CT and brain/neck MRI. All checked out normal. Could this really be chalked up to stress and can I stop panicking about this? It has caused me so much stress I'm beginning to now suffer signs of extremely high anxiety and it is greatly effecting my quality of life.  

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

If I had to bet, I would bet that you have either 1) a very longstanding, mild strabismus that never caused you symptoms until recently, when your brain's ability to control the strabismus was reduced from stress and fatigue and alcohol, or 2) myasthenia gravis.  I would guess the neuroophthalmologist had you tested for myasthenia gravis - you should call and ask. If it turns out to be a mild case of longstanding strabismus, no additional testing or imaging is required.  The best doc to see you would be a pediatric ophthalmologist who also sees adults with eye muscle and double vision problems.  Find one near you at www.aapos.org.

[JodieJ]

You might see an ophthalmologist who specializes in strabismus (sometimes called a pediatric ophthalmologist, but they see adults, too.)  You could have a slight eye muscle imbalance.  This type of double vision gets worse with fatigue or alcohol consumption.