Double vision

[Flossie44]

So dd has had double vision for about 18months. It came and went but gradually worsened. Thad come on very quickly. She had scans etc and nothing was found abnormal in her brain. It’s a muscle condition that she has generally that has now hit her eyes too.

They’ve tried prisms but they didn’t work as couldn’t find one strong enough.
Dd was operated on last year and had corrective surgery. She woke up being able to see. It was amazing and so emotional. Within 5 days her vision started splitting again on and off.
It’s now become more severe and it splits and stays split for quite some time.
We’ve been told to expect this to be permanent but they’re going to operate one more time to try once more.

I don’t know what I can do. Does this mean she will be ‘visually impaired’? She has 20/20 vision, but twice!! So she walks into things as doesn’t know the correct solid picture.
I can’t bare to think of my little girl having this. She must feel so frustrated.

How frustrating OP. How old is she?

I've just seen that she has a muscle disorder, which does make things more difficult.
You can exercise the eye muscles and increase fusional reserves and you could ask the orthoptist at the hospital you're going to how to do this and if it is a possibility. It might be worth seeing a behavioural optometrist for their opinion.

But no, she won't be visually impaired, she can have either a slightly blurring lens on one of her glasses, or one contact lens that is blurred or an eye patch. People (especially children) get used to looking mainly out of one eye very quickly.

Thanks so much for your reply.

She’s 12.

She’s tried exercises using one of those lollipop sticks with a sticker on the top. Pulling it back and forth towards her face. I can see her eyes splitting. They split a lot.

She’s had prisms but she struggled. A patch on her glasses was easier. But now she’s complaining her vision is splitting. But also she sees distance in one eye, and then the patch from the other!! So it’s near/far and splitting!!

She’s fab in every way and soldiers on which is what I promote wholeheartedly. But secretly (I’d never say this to her) I worry about the future

What’s behavioural optometrist

Okay, next time you see the consultant (or if you can ring his secretary) ask if you can try some exercises to " increase fusional reserves" - there may be a reason you can't try them.

I have had double vision all my life. It always gets worse when I am tired or have been doing lots of close work.

I was luckier than your dd as after my first operation l had about 4 years of single vision, after my second I had about 6 years and after my third about 20 years.

I am also luckier that they found prisms that currently work.

The exercise I was given involves joining two half pictures of a cat together.

This does help but they said I would have to do the exercises a lot for any real difference.

I am also exceptionally lucky that when I see single I have excellent 3D vision. Unfortunately when I see double I do sometimes struggle with depth perception.

When I most recently went to the hospital they discussed Botox however they said my eyes were not bad enough and it is a very inexact treatment.

I am hoping my eyes will stay stable with my current prism prescription as unfortunately as they have operated on all the muscles I can not be operated on again. After the last operation they adjusted the stitches whilst I was awake to get a better result.

This is a picture of the exercise I have. I should do it more but forget!

Oh wow thanks. That’s interesting re the exercise.
Dd has done a fair few of the sticker on the end of a stick and bringing it back and forth to her nose etc. But not the two halves of a cat.

Hers deteriorated rapidly if she’s tired. I guess all our muscles weaken with tiredness. Hers definitely do.

GOSH have discussed Botox too.

I wonder if the exercises are linked to which way the eyes want to move - in towards the nose or out.

I hope they find a solution for your dd soon.

Hers fly outwards when she’s tired