Symptom 4: Double Vision (Diplopia)
Imagine looking out into the world, and instead of the clarity you expect, you’re met with overlapping, blurry images. Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is precisely this experience, and it’s one of the more disorienting symptoms of CPM.
Our eyes, remarkable as they are, rely on intricate coordination to provide a clear, singular image. This coordination ensures that both eyes focus on the same point and move synchronously. The pons plays an integral role in this. When it’s impacted by CPM, this synchronized dance falters, leading to the ghostly double images of diplopia.
For some, the doubled vision might be intermittent, possibly appearing more pronounced when looking in a specific direction. For others, it can be persistent. Reading, watching television, or even recognizing faces can turn into challenges. The world morphs into a confusing overlap of images, making even familiar environments feel alien.
The ripple effect of diplopia touches various aspects of life. Beyond the obvious visual disturbances, it can cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness. More critically, it can jeopardize activities that demand precision and depth perception, like driving or operating machinery. (4)
