Help with Ghosting Vision After PRK Eye Surgery

Ghosting Vision PRK

Many of us suffer from common problems with our vision, such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism, that we want to improve. However, not many of us suffer ghosting or double vision. While these conditions are not widespread or well known, people who suffer from them certainly want relief.

Let’s look at what ghosting and double vision are and what particular issues cause this lesser-known condition.

Ghosting vision or double vision, also more properly known as diplopia, is a condition that occurs when your eyes that normally work together start to see two slightly different images. Double vision occurs when these two different images cause you to see them transposed next to each other. Ghosting vision is slightly different from double vision (though it is essentially the same condition) where only a partial (or ghost) of the image is seen to the side or around the image you are looking at.

The reason for this difference in symptoms is because usually, ghosting vision happens in one eye.

What causes ghosting vision or double vision?  

There are actually a variety of different things that can cause diplopia.  First, it should be made clear that there is a difference between long-term and short-term diplopia. Long-term diplopia is a lengthier health issue which can be an indication of major health issues. In contrast, short-term diplopia is usually not a serious concern for your long-term health since the causes of it are easily overcome. As a matter of fact, many of us have suffered from double vision temporarily before. Short-term double vision is often caused by temporary and more easily combated factors such extreme fatigue, extensive alcohol or drug consumption.

Long-term or recurring diplopia, however, can be caused by many different issues in the body.

Some of these issues can actually become life-threatening conditions.

1) Corneal irregularities – The cornea is the transparent layer on the outer edge of your eye that helps focus images onto your retina so you can see clearly. Any irregularity with this clear outer edge could certainly cause long-term ghosting or double vision.

2) Severely dry eyes – If your eyes don’t produce sufficient tears, they will also have a hard time focusing and operating optimally. Conditions that cause dry eyes, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, can often cause sufferers to have double or ghosting vision as well.

3) Cataracts – Since the lens part of your eye becomes cloudy when a cataract develops and because cataracts don’t attack both eyes simultaneously, they are a common cause of ghosting vision in one eye.

4) Cranial nerve palsies – A cranial nerve palsy happens when one or more of the muscles that control the eyes and its ability to focus get paralyzed or can’t coordinate any longer with the other muscles that control the eye. This cause of double vision can be caused by a variety of things such as head injuries, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, tumors, a blockage of an artery and other serious health conditions.

5) Brain tumor, stroke or a brain aneurysm – These type of illnesses and conditions are usually extremely serious and can even be life-threatening. Since these conditions can happen out of the blue, so do the corresponding diplopia symptoms that can come with them. This is why it is extremely important to see a doctor if you are ever suffering from double vision and don’t know what its cause is.

Last, but not least, PRK and other laser eye surgeries may cause diplopia problems. This is because these corrective eye surgeries physically change the shape of your cornea and can cause dry eyes. This type of diplopia can take a few weeks to months to disappear but can be easily treated by using eye drops for a while or with another laser eye surgery.

If you are suffering from diplopia or ghosting vision in one eye or want to learn more about what causes ghosting vision, please contact us at Diamond Vision. We can help you get your knowledge and eyesight crystal clear! If you’re from Georgia visit our PRK Eye Surgery Center in Atlanta.

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