Intermittent Double Vision

fridaynotes

Well known member
I haven’t been on here in a few years, because I mostly had all my TMS issues completely and totally resolved, but all of a sudden going through one of the most stressful periods of my adult life, when I’m in the process of losing a job that I love, I get this crazy, intermittent double vision that I just feel is TMS. It makes me think of that old phrase. I’m so angry, I can’t even see straight!
but even though I’m pretty convinced this TMS, I am going to get it checked out in the next day or two. I’m just not in a location where I can get it checked out the present moment, but I just wanted to kind of laugh out loud about it for a moment because it just seems so typical TMS to me!
anyone else have experience with strange sudden onset, double vision but very intermittently? it just seems like anxiety and TMS is such a culprit of this.
 
Yes, I have, but mine wasn't TMS, I'm afraid. However, yours might be, of course, as TMS can cause all kinds of symptoms and you're recognising you're going through a stressful period atm. Obviously, get it checked out just as you plan, by a professional. Some questions, though: Is the dv binocular or monocular? (With binocular the dv stops if you close one eye, either of your eyes; with monocular it doesn't.) Does the dv improve after you've closed and rested your eyes? And do you have any other symptoms, e.g. any eyelid droopiness? Also, have you noticed it comes on or is worse when the temperature is hot?
 
it’s binocular. when an eye is closed it sees fine. and i have no other weird attendant symptoms like nausea or headaches or dizziness. etc…
 
Okay, so I think it's unlikely to be what I've got, what with having no other attendant symptoms. I always reply to queries about dv because I had trouble getting mine diagnosed as it's a relatively rare condition and I don't want other people to go through what I went through (it's called Ocular Myasthenia Gravis and it gives me crazy fluctuating binocular dv; sometimes the images are side by side and sometimes on top of each other). There are quite a number of physical causes of intermittent binocular dv... There's something called decompensating heterophoria which can be revealed/uncovered by stress and is apparently very common and highly treatable, often just with exercises and/or reduction of screen time. Thyroid issues can be connected to dv, so it might be worth getting some blood tests for that, just to be on the safe side. But essentially I'm stabbing in the dark here.... so, not sure who you're planning to see, but would suggest opting for an ophthalmologist to rule out anything physical.
 
Last edited:
all that sounds reasonable… it definitely is fluctuating. and does seem to be double side by side or double on top of another. that fluctuates too. it definitely sends me into a momentary panic when it happens and of course, that often makes it worse. there’s something about it that just really smells of TMS to me… but I will have it checked out as soon as I can
 
One of my recurring TMS symptoms when I'm stressed is double/blurry vision, usually just in one eye at a time. It goes away after several days when I mitigate whatever's stressing me out, but it absolutely can't hurt to get an eye test. Having a good pair of glasses is important! 😁
 
i went to the ER tonight and got a CT scan and it came back OK. tomorrow they now recommend i get an MRI just to rule everything out. And as we know, you need to go through mostly all the appropriate medical tests before you can fully accept TMS. but i still really think it’s TMS! wish me luck!
 
With the CT I surmise one of things they will have looked for is any swelling of the tissues behind your eyes because this would have indicated Thyroid Eye Disease, which can cause dv. I say this because they looked at that when I was having tests for my dv. So, obviously, that's very good news re the CT being okay. You're being advised to get the right scans -- MRI is gold standard for investigating a lot of possible causes of binocular diplopia. Hope all goes well with that too.
 
Back
Top