---
title: "Double vision | Eye Health Guide"
description: "What double vision means, common causes such as a squint, and why sudden double vision needs prompt medical assessment. Clinically reviewed."
url: https://eyehealthguide.org/symptoms/double-vision/
source: Eye Health Guide
licence: "General information only. Cite the URL and the named medical reviewer."
---

Symptom

# Double vision

Sudden double vision needs urgent care

Medical reviewer [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/mohamed-mohyudin/)· Last recorded site review July 6, 2026

### About this review

This page inherits the site’s previous review record. A separate, current article sign-off has not yet been recorded.

[How review works](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/) · [Official biography & credentials](https://mohamedmohyudin.co.uk/author/mohamed-mohyudin/)

Quick answer

Double vision is seeing two images of a single object. It can come from the eyes not aligning, such as a squint, or from focusing problems. New or sudden double vision, especially with other symptoms, needs prompt assessment as it can occasionally signal a serious problem.

## When to get urgent help

- Sudden onset of double vision
- Double vision with a headache, droopy eyelid or pupil change
- Double vision with weakness, numbness or slurred speech
- Double vision after a head or eye injury

### On this page ⌄

1. When to get urgent help
2. Common causes
3. What can help
4. Frequently asked questions

## Common causes

Double vision can be in one eye or both. These are common causes, with the conditions to read next.

## What can help

- Note whether the doubling is in one eye or both, which helps diagnosis
- Have an eye test for long-standing or gradual double vision
- Treat sudden double vision as urgent rather than waiting

## Frequently asked questions

### Is double vision serious?

New or sudden double vision, especially with a headache, droopy eyelid, weakness or speech changes, needs urgent assessment. Long-standing double vision should still be checked.

### What causes double vision?

It can come from the eyes not aligning, such as a squint, or from focusing problems and other conditions. Whether it affects one or both eyes helps find the cause.

### Can glasses fix double vision?

Some causes, such as uncorrected focusing errors, improve with glasses, and special prism lenses can help certain squints. The right treatment depends on the cause.

### Can double vision be a sign of stroke?

Sudden double vision with weakness, numbness, slurred speech or a severe headache can signal a stroke or TIA and needs emergency care. Long-standing double vision still needs assessment but is less likely to be a stroke.

Your next step

## Take this to your appointment

Write down what has changed, when it started, your current medicines and the questions you want answered. Take these to your eye-care appointment.

Sudden loss of sight, severe eye pain or a dark curtain across vision needs immediate assessment. Do not wait to complete a worksheet.

## Trusted sources

For general background, these organisations provide eye-health information. This list is further reading, not a record that they reviewed this article.

- [NHS — Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/)
- [Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust](https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/)
- [American Academy of Ophthalmology — EyeHealth](https://www.aao.org/eye-health)
- [National Eye Institute (NIH)](https://www.nei.nih.gov/)
- [College of Optometrists — Look After Your Eyes](https://lookafteryoureyes.org/)
- [World Health Organization — Eye care, vision impairment and blindness](https://www.who.int/health-topics/blindness-and-vision-loss)