Double Vision

[ekh92206]

Is anyone else dealing with double vision? This seems to be the most constant thing I've had to deal with from my stroke. I can't drive very often, read, write, pick out clothing, walk, or many other things. I've seen a specialty optomologist and her solution was prism glasses, but the glasses make everything very blurry. Any other suggestions?

[Guest mjh]

My vision was definitely affected by my stroke - the image in my left eye has rotated by about 20 degrees clockwise. It's not the eyeball, apparently, it's the interpretation of the image by the visual cortex. It is least bothersome if I am looking straight ahead, most bothersome looking left and right. The effect is "sort of" double vision. If I concentrate very hard I can "fuse" the image from each eye reasonably well but that causes me to get very tired.

[smarshall]

Hi,

Both my eyes were affected by my stroke. I used a prism in my glasses for a while; it only worked for me if I was looking directly, (Full face.) at something. What actually worked the best for me, was putting one piece of tape down the center part of the lens of the glasses of the eye that's giving you trouble. I was told that some people even paint a strip of clear nail polish down the lens.

I had eye muscle surgery - didn't work, so I ended up having a permanent tarsorrhaphy done almost five years ago. (The upper and lower eyelids were sewn together.) It looks a little weird, but it works like a charm!!

I stroked in 1996, age 36.

 

I hope you get some relief!

Take care,

Susan :farmer:

[lisas]

My daughter gets double vision when she is really tired or been up and about all day. It jsut seems to go away after she lies down and goes to sleep or takes a mini-nap.

[Guest mjh]

My daughter gets double vision when she is really tired or been up and about all day. It jsut seems to go away after she lies down and goes to sleep or takes a mini-nap.

 

That's the brain working hard to correct the vision troubles. I have exactly the same problem when I am tired and it is fixed exactly the same when I take a rest.

[mljmsw]

I would suggest you find a neurologic ophthalmologist. I had one assigned to me almost immediately after being diagnosed and admitted. She told me that vision difficulties and loss of sight were very common with stroke.

 

I never had double vision but did have migraine-type headaches that went away after 3 years of neurontin, or gabopentin, a heavy-duty pain killer.

 

I now wear glasses all the time not just for reading.

 

I had to have several testing sessions for vision before being released from the hospital.

 

Part of my cearance to drive was passing a vision test by an OT specializing in driving tests

 

He did a lot of peripheral vision testingmoreso than my neurological opthalmologist.

 

best regards,

 

mljmsw

 

 

[ekh92206]

I just want to correct something from my post. My double vision is def not the worst thing that has happened from my stroke. But it is def the most constant, it makes life very difficult. I just wanted to clear that up.

 

I have seen a neuro optomologist and the only suggestion was prisms, but the thickness of the prism is so great that it defeats the purpose making everything blurry.

 

Thanks for the suggestions though.

[PRUFUS]

I HAVE DOUBLE VISION SO I HAVE MY LIMITED MOVEMENT EYE COVERED BY A FROSTED LENS. IT WORKS WELL AND I HAVE GOOD PERIRUFUL SIGHT IN BOTH EYES. I HAVE SLIGHT ATAXIA IN MY EYE THAT IS UNCOVERED AND I HAVE TO CATCH A WORD AT THE EYE SHIFT BUT I CAN STILL SEE. IT JUST GETS CONFUSING WITH MY EYE GOING BACK-IN-FORTH AND BEING IN A CAR GOING UP AND DOWN.

 

PRUFUS

[Phyllis4732]

the only suggestion was prisms, but the thickness of the prism is so great that it defeats the purpose making everything blurry.

 

Was the prescription checked? Did those making the glasses use the correct prescription? Usually, I don't believe they do this.

 

A friend who had an accident years ago, started with the glass having a patch over it but went to prisms when they came out. She has worn them for years now.

[larrymm]

Right after my stroke I also had double vision which made PT and OT *interesting*. Luckily, it cleared up on its own in about 3 weeks. I now only have a very small amount of double vision to my extreme left.

 

I still have trouble reading something that I just glance at (think the gas price at a gas station while I'm on the highway driving past). This has to do with my ability to focus on something when I need to see it in detail. When driving, you have to focus quickly and read, all while driving. This has gotten better from not being able to do it at all 4 years ago to being able to do it about 40% of the time now.

 

Usually, I can focus on the detail but, on fairly rare occasions, I simply cannot. Since it also takes me longer to focus on something, I can no longer make surrupticious glances at the ladies (it appears that I am leering although that's not at all what I'm doing). :wicked:

 

Larry

[sinead]

Hi,

I too have vision issues since my stroke.

Unlike you I do not have double vision - I see 3 of everything with each eye, making six in total. The umages are also very dark and very blurry to the extent that I can only make out different colours. I am registered blind now - with all the problems that brings. I have to use a white stick when I am out and a screen reader on my computer.

The only thing I can suggest is that you get a referral to an opthamologist - two would be great as you get two different opinions and advice.

If you live in the UK your local optician has taken on the care of the Low Vision Clinics that used to take place at the hospitals. Your optician should be able to tell you which local optician runs this service - as it is specialised.

The other thing is phone social services and ask to be put in touch with youe sensory team. They will be able to give you advice on where to go from here.

 

Sorry not to be able to give you more concrete help.

But hang in there- the best solution fo you will turn up

 

Sinead