What is the solution to this eye ghosting?

[Emjee1981]

I have the same issue. I see two images on bright lights one on top of the other and sometimes below for the past one year. Initially my doctors said it was dry eyes but has not gone away despite using systane ultra and genteal gel. I visited another doctor, he conducted a PENTACAM test but it was all normal. He suggested that I wear contact lens to see if it goes away, but NO it still remains. Meanwhile, now I am also noticing light glares coming out of bright light sources like car headlights, white background in television etc. Also shining star like object in lights (but not much in number). Sometimes it is also difficult for me to get a sharp image in low light conditions. Is this a case of early cataract? Or some other disease? I am 35 years old and diabetic.

[AlexMR22]

Hi I have the same symptom ghosting both eyes and I feel it gets worse. I went with 2 different eye doctors and they told me nothing wrong with my eyes, even I see starbursts on lights,  LEDS and reflect of the sun. Could some of you tell me if you find a solution??

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

This discussion is inactive since 2017.  Your complaint is common. This is short summary of causes:  needing glasses, incorrect or improperly fitted glasses,  improperly fitted contact lens, corneal disease especially irregular astigmatism,  cataracts, macular disease, retina/optic nerve disease.

[AlexMR22]

I forgot to mention I wear glasses and they don't help :(

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

answered on your other post

[Emjee1981]

Ghosting went away for me using a hard contact lens. It worked like magic. However, the light streaks continue to exist from bright light source (car headlights etc). Need to admit that i dont wear the hard lenses to often given it is very uneasy for the eyes especially when you are moving them. I am planning for a permanent solution through a operation.

[AlexMR22]

Emje1981. Do you have keratukonus? I dont have it, I heard hard contact lenses is for people with keratokonus. Your hard contact lenses are GP? Are they uncomfortable??

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

=

[Emjee1981]

An update: Visited the famous All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India. They said that i have some form of astigmatism and eye convergence issue. They have prescribed new glasses and eye workouts (orthoptic workup). Have been doing those eye exercises for the past one week - it is better now, the light beams that i used to see from the light source has become slightly better. Waiting for the new glasses.

[Emjee1981]

++ stiff eye muscle due to constant use of the laptop another issue with my eyes

[JohnHaganMD]

When use computer, read or do near work look up every 10-15 minutes refocus to something 20 or further feet (6 M) and blink vigorously 5-6 times it helps strain on eye and prevents cornea from drying

[Emjee1981]

When you say contact lens do u suggest a hard or soft contact lens? I tried a soft contact lens for a day and it does not seem to work.

[JohnHaganMD]

Then you only have rigid to try

[Emjee1981]

Yes I saw the Regina specialist last month, he said that there were minor weak spots in my pheripheral vision and got a minor laser done. But he said this will not solve the issue with ghosting which came out to be true. Otherwise he said my Retina was ok.
Yes I do wear glasses and the ghosting appear despite wearing or wearing glasses.

[Emjee1981]

Just one more thing, if I tilt my head down and try to look from the top curve of my spectacle the ghosting disappears.

[JohnHaganMD]

If your problem was a disease of the eye it would not go away. So you are talking about an optical problem related to your cornea. If you can't correct it with glasses (ultra careful refraction-glasses fitting and perhaps antireflective optics or even the new "wave front" fitted glasses then you will either need to live with it and quit worrying or try contact lens.

[JohnHaganMD]

First of all I want to be sure you are under the care of Eye MDs and not optometrists. Your eye condition and diabetes needs a MD physician. If that is the case its not clear how many physicians you've seen. The Pentacam tests the central cornea. I would suggest you get a second opinion from a cornea/refractive surgeon. Ask about a corneal topography which would give a better look at the peripheral cornea.  Yes an early cataract could cause these symptoms. If you have have type 1 diabetes and have had for more than 10-15 years cataracts are not unusual especially if your diabetes is not well controlled (A1c >7.0)
The other thing I would suggest is a macular OCT as you could also have diabetic macular swelling (edema)

[Emjee1981]

Thanks Dr. John for your response.Yes, i am under eye MDs. Infact all cornea and retina specialists I have taken opinion from at least 4 specialists so far and none of them could find out the cause. All of them checked my eye (post dilation) and said there is no issue with my eye. I have type 2 diabetic and got diagnosed in the last 1 year but it is well under control and i take tablets for my diabetes and not insulin. HBAC1 is under 5.5 when i last got it checked. I am pretty worried as this does not seem to go away.  

[JohnHaganMD]

Early cataracts can be very subtle and difficult to diagnose. However with 4 exams should be seen. Assuming you have had macular OCT since you see retina MD? If not need.  Do you wear glasses? If so is the ghost image present both with and without glasses? If you wear glasses can you move your glasses to make the ghost go away? If so it may be optical aberration from the glasses or the glasses RX could be incorrect or the lens could be mounted not over your visual axis.  Contact lens would help perhaps if this was irregular corneal astigmatism but that should have shown up with the PENTACAM.

[JohnHaganMD]

Congrats on the great A1c