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Diplopia (Double Vision) Help!

Posted by ashby1947 @ashby1947, Jun 7, 2019

After Tube Shunt surgery for Glaucoma, I am left with Diplopia, or double vision. Surgery was successful - good, Diplopia - bad. I'm adjusting to corrective lenses in glasses; however, I only wear the glasses for computer and reading. My vision is fine without any correction for distance. I do not need glasses for driving or watching TV, for example. When I walk around the house, I cannot wear the corrective lenses. My balance is definitely affected. Has anyone gone though adjusting to this sort of situation? All comments welcome!

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mikeadams04 | @mikeadams04 | Apr 4 10:33am

Hi everyone,
I was born with strabismus. I started wearing glasses at a young age. My left eye was my weak eye.
At the age of 18 I decided to get a surgery to correct my eyes. Many times in the past I had doctors perform the prism test on me.
The night before I was going to have a consultation with eye surgeon which was going to simulate what my vision would be after the surgery.
That night was when I first started to see double vision. I started to see two images of my alarm clock. I told my parents and the eye surgeon my story. No one believed me. I told them as the doctor was going to do the prism simulation.
The doctor made an appointment at Duke medical center in North Carolina. The doctors confirmed I was correct. The stranger part is that I can make myself see triple vision. Haven't done it in a while though.
I have had particular jobs in which my vision has affected my job .
One time when I was watching television at home and the images were moving. Now my job a the time was in television. So imagine looking at multiple television screens and trying to focus. When you see more than one television. I did that for years. Struggled a lot too.
I eventually had not one but two surgeries to straighten out my eyes but the double vision remains.
Sometimes it affects me in everyday situations. I try only to look out of my right eye. Block out the vision in my left area.
I was wondering if there is some consultation for people who live with double vision.
By the way I have been seeing double vision now for over 40 years.
Does anyone else have their story to share?

REPLY
mikeadams04 | @mikeadams04 | Apr 4 10:40am
In reply to @mef46 "I am so glad to finally read something about double vision. Mine started after my second..." + (show)
@mef46

I am so glad to finally read something about double vision. Mine started after my second shunt surgery. That surgery also resulted in a slight sagging oh my right eyelid and an enlarged pupil of that eye. After reading the above posts, I’m thinking that I should revisit the idea of adding prism to my glasses. Thankfully, mine doesn’t bother me when I watch TV, but it does a great deal when I read and text. I know it doesn’t change my situation but just to know that others have had this complication from surgery.
…mary4free6

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Do you still have double vision? I started seeing double at age 18. I am now 59. It happened the night before my consultation with an eye doctor. Not sure if prism glasses will help me. Do you know of non profit organization that has help with people coping with double vision

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mikeadams04 | @mikeadams04 | Apr 4 10:42am
In reply to @dsh33782 "I had double vision after detached retina surgery and had to give up driving until it..." + (show)
@dsh33782

I had double vision after detached retina surgery and had to give up driving until it was corrected. I was referred to a specialist who prescribed prism lense addition to existing glasses and they worked. The prism lense ad-ons do not change your glasses prescription, they just correct alignment to prevent double vision.

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Was your vision corrected. I have double vision. Not sure if prisms will help though. Have had two surgeries too.

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1 reply
mikeadams04 | @mikeadams04 | Apr 4 10:47am
In reply to @ashby1947 "After tube shunt surgery for glaucoma, I developed diplopia. I have prism glasses which enable me..." + (show)
@ashby1947

<p>After tube shunt surgery for glaucoma, I developed diplopia. I have prism glasses which enable me to work at the computer and read. However, I need no corrective lenses to see far away, about 6 feet and farther. I can't wear either pair of prism glasses when I'm walking because of the distortion. This produces a tremendous disorientation - like not seeing a step in perspective and not really being able to see my feet clearly. If you have diplopia, you will understand - it's difficult to explain. I am working with a balance therapist and expect to improve. I also developed a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion 4 weeks ago, for which I am receiving injections. I expect I will regain my vision; however, at present this contributes to my disorientation. I am an optimist and fortunately have excellent physicians. While I have a strong tolerance for dealing with health issues, I am experiencing a high stress level. Some of it is the length of time I've been dealing with it, 7 months (I know it could be worse), but it is difficult not to be able to read or use the computer for any length of time, and feeling so unstable and disoriented. I am an active 73 y.o. I am asking for anyone who has dealt with similar issues to tell me of your experiences. My usual sources of support are there for me; however, it is impossible for me to help them understand what it is I'm dealing with. Thank you in advance for any insights!</p>

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I have had double vision since I was 18 years old. I am now 59 years old. I had two surgeries when I was younger. The double vision started up the night before my consultation with my eye doctor. Sometimes it is hard to focus on certain things.
Do you know of any self help consultation groups.

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mikeadams04 | @mikeadams04 | Apr 4 10:51am
In reply to @rugbytrayn "My Diplopia is a result of negligent cataract surgery. I am attempting to locate and have..." + (show)
@rugbytrayn

My Diplopia is a result of negligent cataract surgery. I am attempting to locate and have contacted 12+ Florida medical malpractice attorneys to consider taking my case on a contingency basis. No luck! Keep running up against the (2) year statute of limitations. I live in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and I am happy to help anyone experiencing a similar situation/problem.

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Hi Lawrence, do you still see double vision. I live in jacksonville, fl. My situation is different. My double vision started up the night before my eye appointment. I was wondering if you know of any self help or non profit meeting groups for people with double vision.

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mikeadams04 | @mikeadams04 | Apr 4 10:58am
In reply to @rbcookson "Mine occurred after surgery as well, but so did a bad fall I took, so I..." + (show)
@rbcookson

Mine occurred after surgery as well, but so did a bad fall I took, so I can't be 100% sure it was the cause. One neuro-opthamologist I saw thought it might be cause by the fact that as a child, my left eye did not coordinate with my right, so over time I unconsciously and unknowingly blocked it out and just used my right eye. Signs of doing that were that I always titled my head so that my right eye was forward. Also, I had trouble crossing the midline when would write, and I was probably dyslexic. Anyway, when I had my cataracts removed and replaced with Vivity (trifocal) lenses, somehow my left eye awoke and, being weaker, caused my diplopia. While that is certainly possible, I don't think that is the cause or the only cause because I only get diplopia when I turn my head to the left or right. Now I have to use prism glasses to help minimize the problem. While at Mayo, after I told my neurosurgeon about this problem, he ordered a CT angiogram out of concern that I could have Bow Hunters Syndrome. I have read the results of that test but am not qualified enough to interpret it. Another possibility is that I have some other problem causing restriction of blood flow and oxygen to my brain when I turn my head to the left or right. Anyway, now we are in active pursuit of such a possibility, which is not directly related to the proposed laminectomy and fusion Dr. Flanigan plans to do on my C4-5, 5-6, and maybe C7-T1.

I guess my point is that just because your diplopia occurred right after your cataract surgery doesn't mean that surgery caused it. Just food for thought. Hope it is helpful

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My double vision started up before my surgery. My parents and the doctors did not believe me. I now have been seeing double for over 40 years.
Is there any consultation group that has people who see double vision In telling their stories and how they cope with seeing double.

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Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Apr 4 3:39pm
In reply to @mikeadams04 "Was your vision corrected. I have double vision. Not sure if prisms will help though. Have..." + (show)
@mikeadams04

Was your vision corrected. I have double vision. Not sure if prisms will help though. Have had two surgeries too.

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Mike
Yes, I eventually got glasses with correction for double vision, and could drive again.
However, that was years ago. I have now been fighting glaucoma for 30 years and can no longer drive due to loss of vision. I have no central vision in left eye and only about 50% of field in right eye.
Don

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