Double Vision

[Teenager101]

Hi, im 16 and I think i may have an eye problem/defect. When I look at objects from   close up (5 inches away) every thing is doubled, but when I look at an object from far to medium distance i have normal vision. This has been going on from when I was born. Another thing i have just noticed is that when indoors if I look at a shadow coming from an object their will be 3-5 shadows in different shades coming from that one shadow, but when outside i only see one shadow always. I apologize for the long post, i just want to find out whats going on. Oh yeah i forgot to mention when i close one eye there is no double vision if that helps any. Thank you so much for posting.

[Teenager101]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. This site is awesome.

[John C Hagan]

The double vision you describe is "physiologic diplopia or double vision". If you look carefully and hold a finger in front of your eyes about 6-8 inches away and look out the window or something far away you'll see two fingers. If you refocus on the finger the objects in the backgroud will double. This is normal and we "tune it out" unless we go looking for it. You can also demonstrate this with two pencils in front of the eye, same level one a foot away and the second about 3 foot away.

Note sure about the second observation. You may have some astigmatism or other refractive error, if you wear glasses you may have a change in your prescription or there may be some optical abberations from the lens. Some of the difference between indoor and out may be due to the lighting or the difference in the size of the pupil.

Even though you're young if you have not had an eye examination in the last 2-3 years I would see an opthalmologist for a comprehensive medical eye examination especially if other folks in your family wear glasses or contact lens.

JCH MD Ophthalmologist = Eye MD