Bilateral Monocular Diplopia Help!

[larshy]

I have been experiencing a number of symptoms associated with my eyes as well as other areas of my body but more recently have been experiencing bilateral monocular diplopia. My first vision problem was an awareness of floater which started out as one black dot in my right eye then later a dot in my left eye and now many dots and lines as well as transparent dots that I can only describe as water bubbles (clear transparent circles) in both eyes. These visual floaters are most noticeable against a bright background. I am also experiencing blurred vision that comes and goes in either eye as well as a glare from light sources in either eye if I am in a dark area. I have been to see an optometrist and in his opinion my eyes were in great shape.

Since the visit with the optometrist the monocular diplopia has become more of a problem and is most noticeable when looking at light sources but I can also see ghosts images of objects if they are dark against a light background or vice versa. The diplopia is vertical; the ghost image is overtop of the real image. The only way it seems to disappear is if I tilt my head down and look upwards at the object or sometimes if I squint the ghost image will disappear. I have also tried a homemade pinhole test. When the pinhole in directly in the center of my vision the double image goes away, however when the pinhole is slightly above my center of vision the double image comes back.

Other symptoms that I have been having include tinnitus, frequent headaches, muscle spasms, pins and needles, and numbness.

I have had a CT scan done which came back normal and am now waiting to see a neurologist in 6-8 weeks.

Do these symptoms sound like it is something wrong with my eyes or is it something wrong with my brain? I am afraid that it could still be a brain tumor that didn’t show up on the CT scan, or is that even possible? I am also afraid that this could be some malignant form of MS. Please any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Nancy T]

Brock, I would really try to find an ophthalmologist who is willing to work on solving your problem. I know next to nothing about the eyes, but I would think that if your problem IS a refractive one, they ought to be able to do something about it with glasses.

Perhaps after your CT results the doctor will discuss all of this with you and find a solution.

I think it would drive me nuts to have double vision all the time. Tinnitus is one thing--you can tune it out--but not seeing clearly is not something I could ignore!!

I don't see my ophthalmologist again until July 1, but I'll try to remember to ask him then what is different about the glasses he gave me. I have no idea what my prescription is--I can't ever remember numbers like that--I just hand it over to the optician and forget about it.

Best of luck to you, and keep us updated.

Nancy

[sixfootblonde]

I too have recently started getting ghost vision in both eyes and it is in each separately.  I am 33 years old and pregnant - so the optician said to wait and see what happens after I have had the baby.  With a pinhole mine clears up fine.  I have a slight astigmatism in my left eye so that might be the cause of that.  I obsessed about brain nasties too - but from the little I have read that seems very unlikely.  I noticed the problem in November but thought my vision had been a little odd for a month or two before then.  Mine is not very noticeable during the day or in good light, but as soon as light starts to fade in the day I start to get ghosting.  So I guess if it were a brain problem it would not be linked to light - wouldn't that be more a refractive issue?  The optician said I had good vision otherwise and did give me some glasses that have helped a little with my left eye.  Any comments gratefully received :)

[Nancy T]

Why did the optician think it might change after having the baby? Did s/he give any reason for thinking that?

My comment is that you should see an ophthalmologist (MD).

Odd how it seems we all have different things that make the ghosting worse--in your case low light, in my case reading looking down...who knows??

I wish one of the doctors would comment on your "ghosting is worse in low light" problem.

Nancy T.

[sixfootblonde]

Thanks for your reply.  I think it indicates it is a refractive issue.  With a pinhole at certain angles my sight is perfect - so this rules out brain issues as I understand it. :)

[larshy]

Hey everyone...great to see all the coments and it is funny how every gets this ghosting differently. I am still waiting on the results from my CT scan (I should here back from the doc soon and to be honest if it was any kind of emergency i think i would have heard from him by now). Anyhow I have been searching the web for more info on this phenomena and came across this interesting website. It has a simulator on it to display what your double image, or "ghosting" as they put it, looks like. My settings are - ghost light colors - opacity at 50 - and the one circle is set about halfway up the other one. Was wondering what everyone else was seeing, or how similar we all are to each other. Anyhow again if I get any news from the doctor i will pass it on.

Thanks,

Brock

[larshy]

http://www.thevisioncommunity.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=145