Double vision when tracking objects

[mom2ellabella]

Hi - I have quite a few medical problems pop up in the past year and have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, psoriatic spondlytis, dry eye, and pustular psorasis.  One problem never really got explained which was a three month long vertigo spell where I couldn't stand with my feet together without falling over, couldn't touch my nose with my eyes closed, and generally lost my ability to cope with gravity.   My brain MRI was normal - no lesions, nothing to suggest a neurological problem. So, it could have been an inner ear thing, or I also suspect that it may have been some sort of ocular migraine, as I did see an aura once and had various other weird visual things.  Anyway I am glad its over, just wish it wasn't still a mystery.

One weird vision thing was that I started seeing double - but I only saw double when tracking objects that were far away.  Like birds flying, airplanes, cars that were far away, boats. Everything else with my vertigo went away, except this.  I still see double when I watch birds fly.  Could that be just a normal part of my astigmatism?  I have been seeing an Ophthalmologist and he did do a test with some red lights that was suppose to detect double vision and that turned out normal. Its strange because its only when the object moves that it goes double, if its a tree in the distance its perfectly normal (a bit blurred but normal)

Have you ever heard of that and have any ideas on what it could be? Thanks!

[JodieJ]

I can add a little more information that led me to that hypothesis.  I experienced problems fusing distant objects following a botched retinal procedure.  Moving objects always caused me the most problems, especially when viewed against a blank background.  After a second retinal surgery to correct the damage, my fusional skills slowly returned to a more normal state.  One of the last images to return to normal was an airplane flying in a gray sky.  I work close to the airport, and I find myself checking out the planes to reassure myself that my fusional ability isn't decompensating.  I've also read online comments from others with double vision problems about the doubling of flying birds and airplanes.

Possibly some neurological event (related to your autoimmune problems?) caused both your vertigo and eye muscle weakness.  Your eye muscle misalignment (if you actually have one) is probably very subtle and not easy to detect.    

[mom2ellabella]

Oh that is an interesting idea - I bet you are right. Thank you for that idea. I wonder if one eye's muscle weakness could be related to my various autoimmune problems. I have to see my opthamologist next month anyway, I will ask him about it.

[JodieJ]

I'm not an eye care professional, but I think that it's possible that you have a slight eye muscle misalignment.  Fusing distant objects moving through a background that offers few peripheral vision cues (like birds flying in a blue sky) can be challenging for some people who ordinarily don't have a problem fusing the images of each eye.  A strabismus specialist could rule out this possibility.    

[mom2ellabella]

Thank you for your concern - my neurologist never returned my call after the MRI came out clean.  I am so busy managing the psoriatic arthritis and the fall out from that disease, so the double vision has been pushed to the back burner. It doesn't bother me so much - its just strange.  I have googled around and can find lots of information about double vision, and some information about tracking disorders, but nothing about the two being combined.

Thank you.

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

Your symptoms are concerning: I suggest you see a neurologist and a neuro-ophthalmologist.  Find one near you at www.aao.org

JCH MD