What are Eye Exercises for Double Vision?
Diplopia, or double vision, happens when you see two images of a single object. It can be disorienting when your vision changes unexpectedly, and understanding the causes and potential solutions, including eye exercises for double vision, can help.1
If you experience double vision, it’s important to seek medical care right away as it could be related to a serious underlying condition. It can also impact your depth perception, making activities like driving or walking more difficult.
Eye exercises may strengthen eye muscles and help your eyes work together for clearer vision. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of double vision in adults and children and how eye exercises may help.
Key Points
- Double vision can have many causes, from eye muscle issues to neurological conditions, and it’s important to see a doctor promptly for evaluation.
- Eye exercises for double vision may strengthen eye muscles, improve focus, and help your eyes work together for clearer vision.
- Treatment options for diplopia may also include corrective lenses, prism glasses, and, in some cases, surgery for more severe cases.
Understanding Double Vision
Double vision happens when your eyes fail to align correctly, leading to separate images or blurry vision. It can be monocular (affecting one eye) or binocular (affecting both eyes).1 When double vision is binocular, it is typically related to an issue with eye coordination or muscle weakness. If you experience double vision, it’s important to seek medical care right away to rule out serious underlying conditions.
Causes of double vision
Double vision can have several causes, ranging from eye muscle disorders to neurological conditions. Some of the most common causes include:2,3
- Neurological problems including brain injuries, strokes, or brain tumors
- Binocular vision disorders such as convergence insufficiency or strabismus (eye misalignment)
- Lazy eye (amblyopia)
- Central nervous system diseases like thyroid eye disease or multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Dry eye disease
- Nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia)
- Cataracts or other lens conditions
- Refractive errors like astigmatism
- Digital eye strain due to prolonged screen use
- Vitamin deficiency
- Autoimmune diseases like Myasthenia Gravis
- Metabolic diseases including diabetes
How Eye Exercises Help with Double Vision
Eye exercises strengthen eye muscles and improve coordination for proper binocular vision, helping you regain single vision, reduce double images, and enhance depth perception.
- Strengthening eye muscles: Exercises improve weak or uncoordinated muscles, training the eyes to work together so the brain processes a single image.
- Improving eye movements: Exercises like tracking and shifting focus between nearby objects and distant ones reduce separate images and improve focus.
- Enhancing depth perception: 3D vision exercises have you work on fusing two images into one to restore accurate distance judgment and strengthen binocular vision.
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Types of Eye Exercises for Double Vision
There are various eye exercises you can practice at home or under the guidance of a vision therapist or eye care professional. Vision therapy is a specialized treatment program that can help you improve eye coordination and focus.
Below are some of the most common exercises for managing double vision:4,6
1. Pencil push-ups
Pencil push-ups are a simple exercise that strengthens eye muscles and improves convergence:
- Hold a pencil or any small object at arm’s length, and focus on the text or object.
- Slowly bring it towards your nose while keeping your focus.
- Stop if you see double images, and return the pencil to arm’s length.
- Repeat several times to support better eye coordination.
2. Dot cards
Dot cards are used in vision therapy exercises to train the eyes to focus and work together. The cards have dots arranged in a specific pattern, which helps with the processing of vision and binocular depth perception. The goal is to focus on a single dot while the eyes converge.
3. Tracking exercises
Tracking exercises help improve your eyes’ ability to follow moving objects. You can use a pen or a small object and slowly move it horizontally or vertically. Try to keep both eyes focused on the object, following it as it moves without straining or seeing double.
4. Computer-based vision therapy
Computer-based vision therapy has become an accessible way to practice visual exercises. These programs are designed to improve eye coordination, tracking, and focus.
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When to Seek Medical Attention
If you experience double vision, it’s important to seek medical care right away as it can indicate a serious underlying condition. While eye exercises may be helpful for double vision, they’re not suitable for everyone.
It’s important to consult with an eye doctor or vision therapist if you or your child experience double vision. In some cases, double vision may be linked to more serious conditions, such as brain injury or autoimmune diseases. An eye exam is necessary to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and choose the appropriate treatment program.1
If you or your child experience double vision suddenly or in combination with other symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or droopy eyelids, seek medical attention immediately.1
Other Treatment Options
If eye exercises are not enough to correct double vision, your doctor may recommend other treatment options. These include:5,6,7
- Corrective lenses: For refractive errors, prescription glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery, can help restore single vision.
- Prism lenses: These special lenses can be prescribed to reduce double vision by adjusting how light enters the eyes.
- Eyelid hygiene: CorneaCare eyelid wipes and preservative-free artificial tears can reduce double or blurry vision related to dry eye disease.
- Eye muscle surgery: In severe cases of eye muscle conditions, strabismus surgery may be the only way to realign the eyes.
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Double Vision in Children
Pediatric double vision presents unique challenges because children’s visual systems are still developing. Early intervention is important for developing healthy vision and preventing long-term issues. Unlike adults, children may struggle to describe what they see.
The causes of double vision in adults can also occur in children, such as strabismus, amblyopia, and cataracts.5,7
How to spot the signs of double vision in children
Children might not be able to describe their symptoms. Look for these signs which may suggest double vision or other vision problems:5,7
- Closing one eye to focus better
- Squinting
- Complaining about seeing two of the same object
- Difficulty or inability to read
- Tilting their head or adjusting posture while reading
- Struggling to track moving objects or focus on a page
Addressing Pediatric Double Vision
Without treatment, double vision in children can make reading, sports, or even basic coordination more difficult. If you notice signs of vision problems, make an appointment with a pediatric eye doctor.
Similar to double vision in adults, treatment options for children depend on the root cause and may involve corrective measures, therapeutic exercises, or eye patching. For significant misalignment or congenital cataracts, surgery may be needed to restore proper eye function.7
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Eye Exercises for Double Vision FAQ
Vision therapy and exercises that strengthen eye muscles and improve eye coordination may help reduce double vision. Doing exercises like pencil push-ups or using dot cards can enhance binocular vision and help the eyes work together. If digital eye strain is causing your double vision, take regular screen breaks and practice the 20-20-20 rule (look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes). It’s always best to consult an eye care professional to determine the underlying cause of vision problems.
The leading cause of double vision depends on the age group. In adults, neurological conditions like strokes or binocular vision disorders such as strabismus are common. In children, eye misalignment or lazy eye is usually the cause. Other causes include refractive errors, autoimmune diseases, and dry eye disease. An eye exam can help identify the cause and guide treatment.
Glasses can correct double vision caused by refractive errors or mild misalignment. Prism lenses are commonly prescribed to align the two images into one single image. Double vision caused by severe muscle weakness or neurological conditions may require additional treatments such as vision therapy or surgery.
Putting It All Together
Eye exercises for double vision are a non-invasive approach to managing vision problems and reducing the impact of visual symptoms. By strengthening eye muscles and improving depth perception, these exercises may help you regain single vision and reduce the discomfort caused by double images.
It’s important to consult with an eye care professional to determine the best treatment plan for you or your child. With the right combination of exercises and professional care, you can work toward clearer, more comfortable vision.
What’s Next
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