Double Vision Treatment with PrismsAn effective, non-invasive optical solution
Book an AppointmentWhen Your Eyes See Two Images of the Same Object
What is double vision?
Double vision, known medically as diplopia, is a condition in which you see two images of the same object. It can happen in one eye only (monocular) or when both eyes are open (binocular).
When it is binocular, the eyes are not perfectly aligned and point in slightly different directions. In those cases, one of the most common, effective and non-invasive optical treatments is adding prisms to the glasses.
How Do Prisms Correct Double Vision?
Lenses for myopia or hyperopia focus light so you see more sharply. A prism does not change the focus: it bends the direction of light. In binocular double vision, the brain receives two different images because one eye is slightly turned up, down, in or out.
- 01
Bends the light
The prism bends the light rays before they enter the deviated eye and sends them to the area of sharpest vision, the fovea.
- 02
Merges the images
By shifting the light, the image moves to where the deviated eye is really pointing.
- 03
Removes the double image
With the light from both eyes aligned, the brain merges both images into one, clear and in three dimensions.
Two Types of Prism, Depending on Your Case
Fresnel prisms (stick-on). Very thin, flexible plastic sheets with microscopic ridges that are stuck onto the lens of your glasses. They are ideal for temporary or acute phases, for example after an injury or a stroke while waiting to see whether the eye muscle recovers, because their power can be changed easily in the practice. On the other hand, they take away a little sharpness and are more noticeable.
Prisms ground into the lens. When the deviation is stable, mild or permanent, the prism is built into the lens when it is made. They look almost the same as ordinary lenses (only one edge of the glasses is slightly thicker, depending on the power) and give perfect, very comfortable vision.
Double vision that prisms can treat:
- Adult strabismus or stable childhood strabismus.
- Palsy of the nerves that move the eyes, often caused by diabetes, high blood pressure or small strokes.
- Decompensated phorias, which appear with tiredness, stress or age.
- Orbital injuries or surgery that have affected the eye muscles.
See a Single Image Again
Book an appointment at either of our two centers in Benidorm: we will study your case and suggest the most suitable prism solution.