Worsening diplopia with no explanation

Hi Donna @pmrpainat60 I would also like to welcome you to the Mayo Clinic Connect. It is a place where we can all learn from each others experiences. Sorry to hear of your annoying diplopia. In order to find a remedy for your diplopia I feel it would be helpful to find the cause. Have you considered Graves disease? There could be many causes. My diplopia is the result of a cerebral aneurysm. A friend of mine living in Pennsylvania had diplopia after suffering a concussion as a result of a fall. She later suggested vision therapy to me. I live in central Florida. The closest office to me was 40-45 minutes away so I decided not to pursue it. How can anyone with vision disturbances travel to an office, right? Well, it worked out well for my friend. After several weeks the eye exercises help to eliminate her diplopia. When I got the exciting news from her I decided to call the vision therapist near me just to learn more about it. I was told that I would firstly need to come into the office for an assessment which may take upto 3 hours to complete. The results of the exam will conclude if eye exercises will offer help. If exercises can help, a treatment plan will be determined and the length is dependent upon the need to meet those goals. A twice a week office visit may be difficult for me. Anyways, I was also told most medical insurances do not accept this treatment. In my friend’s case she paid for the services herself. I am glad her treatment gave positive results. Originally she had placed a prism in her eye glasses for help. After completing her eye exercises she had her prism removed. Hope this helps. Wish you well. Toni

Hi John,
I'm aware of GCA and scared for sure, I have had nightmares about it. But I must confess I've been a bit stubborn with my New Rheumatologist, I insisted on 5mg and Advil, I do not want to be on 20mg scared of the side effects. So 5mg so far is kind of doable with the Advil, but unfortunately I've had to slow down a lot due to some lingering pain. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this thing/disease.
I'm looking forward to the references and suggestions you included.
Thank you for getting back to me so soon,
Donna

I have diplopia constantly, it is always on the left side. It comes and goes, worsening and getting better, but never goes away. I have Myasthenia Gravis, MuSK kind. I see a Mayo neuro opthamologist. I suggest seeing a Mayo neuro opthamologist while your diplopia is at it's worst, that's when my MuSK antiobody test came back positive. I'm sorry to hear of your other ailments, MG is my worst neurological disease.

Hi,

I was just telling someone of my diplopia issues and thought I'd share my situation here on Connect. I see like this, that double wine glass, with my left eye.. I gave up driving. I'm so frustrated with my vision today!

Hi MGMolly - I am truly sorry that you are dealing with diplopia. I've had it for 2 years as a result of tube shunt surgery for glaucoma - a muscle got cinched somehow. Does yours affect your whole range of vision? Mine is only from chest high down, but plenty enough to disorient me and affect my confidence and independence. I believe the diplopia has had the most profound effect on my over-all well being. I assume yours is a result of the MG, and as you mentioned, it is better or worse depending upon how the MG is doing. Well, it is an untenable situation, and I can share some of what you are going through. My prayers and thoughts are going to you for some relief or improvement, or at least some peace. I hope today is a good day! Sue

oh thank you, you have brightened my day. my diploia ebbs and flows. Sometimes it really flares, sometimes my right eye droops shut completely. My diplopia really flared in November, but it has improved slightly. Thank you, you have said all the right things today! I don't know what glaucoma is like, I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with that.

Wouldn't it be fun to sit down and have that glass of wine together?!!! Between the two of us, we could probably figure out which glass is real - LOL!!!

I'd like to join ashby1947 and Erinmfs for that glass of wine, or two or how many we see. Sure makes life interessting, eh? I never know when the dilopia will appear. I think it's worse when I'm tired, definitely when I get up too early and my body isn't ready to start the effort or moving around. Those early Mayo appts are tough for me. Kills the entire day, exhausted to a point of almost unable to function. And, takes a day or two to recoup. I was diagnosed with MG years ago, after that neurologist decided I didn't have MS. I had several IV treatments that did help, but then testing didn't support the diagnosis. So, back he went to MS. The sight issues have never been accurately diagnosed. I see the Mayo neuro opthomologis in 2 weeks....can't wait as I'm really praying for some answers. and some suggestions for help. I drive ok, but if I begin to see double, blurred and whatever, it does help to close one eye, usually the left as it's easier to keep closed while driving. I don't start out with the problems, tho. I'll not drive not seeing well, but if it hits while driving......Sue, I think you mentioned you have some glasses that help? I expect to go that route if he recommends. These sight problems tire me physically. It's work to see and very frustrating, isn't it? BTW: MGMolly, for several years I couldn't see well with either eye because my lids were drooping so badly. There were time last year I was looking through little slits to see. What a hoot that was! If that's part of your problem, here was my solution. Mayo Opthomology Surgeon tightened the lid muscles so they actually work properly, I can open my eyes all the way and they weill stay open. Makes a big diff in ability to see! Ck it out. It was easy, simple surgery, worked perfectly, took several weeks to heal completely, and I had to pay a portion of the cost since it can be beneficial as plastic surgery. Yes, I see....AND I have no loose skin or wrinkles....looks good, as a side effect. I'll let you know what the tests show in couple weeks. Merry Christmas to all and special Christmas blessings. Elzabeth

hey, thank you for sharing, a fellow MG here on Christmas! I had a minor car incident, I gave up driving. I tried the 'one eye'd driving, but it scared me. I just suck it up and call and uber. Let's get together and have a glass of wine this week, we can count and figure out how many we actually have! 🙂 I always get 2 for the price of one, like in that photo, that's how I see on the left-hand side.

Hi @Erinmfs I have diplopia but a prism does not offer help for me. It should help you if your diplopia is the image in your photo. Best wishes. Toni