Double vision, or diplopia, occurs when a person sees two images instead of one. Performing certain eye exercises may help to reduce double vision in some cases.

When a person has double vision, the images they see may overlap, be separate, appear tilted, or be a combination of the three. Double vision is binocular if it affects both eyes or monocular if it affects one eye.

The best treatment for double vision may depend on the underlying cause. A person should speak with a doctor to learn the underlying cause and whether eye exercises may help to ease their double vision.

Below are four exercises to try for reducing double vision and information on potential causes and when to contact a doctor.

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Although eye exercises cannot help with every cause of double vision, the following exercises may help reduce symptoms for some people, such as those with convergence insufficiency.

Convergence insufficiency occurs when the eyes do not move together in unison when looking at objects at a close distance. This is due to the muscles controlling the eyes not bringing the eyes together enough.

Doctors may suggest eye exercises for some people with convergence insufficiency. However, a 2020 meta-analysis suggests the effectiveness of nonsurgical interventions like this remains unclear.

A person can try the following exercises three to four times daily for a maximum of 2 minutes each time. The following exercises offer variations on the same type of eye test.

1. Pen-to-nose convergence

  1. Hold a pen or similar object at arm’s length and focus on it.
  2. Bring the object slowly toward the nose while trying to keep it as one image.
  3. As soon as the object begins to split into two images, stop moving it and try to focus on combining them back into one image.
  4. Once the object returns to being one image, move it closer toward the nose again.
  5. Repeat these steps until it is not possible to refocus the two images into one.
  6. At this point, return the object to its original position and restart the exercise.

The goal of this exercise is for the person to be able to focus on the object comfortably while it is close to the nose.

If a person cannot complete step 3, they can move the object back slightly until it is a single image and try again.

2. Jump convergence

  1. Start by holding a pen or similar object in one hand while looking into the distance.
  2. Holding the object at arm’s length, bring the object into the line of sight.
  3. Refocus the eyes onto the object for a few seconds, then look back into the distance.
  4. Repeat these steps, bringing the object closer each time before looking at it and focusing on keeping it as a single image.

This exercise aims to help a person maintain single vision while switching between objects nearby and far away.

3. Dot card

For this exercise, a person will need a dot card from their orthoptist or doctor. A dot card is a piece of paper with dots down the middle at fixed intervals.

  1. Hold the card so that one end touches the tip of the nose, tilting it down slightly.
  2. Focus on the dot that is the farthest away.
  3. Move the focus onto the next dot, concentrating on keeping it as a single image.
  4. Hold focus on this dot for 10 seconds.
  5. Keep moving to the next dot along the card, gradually getting closer to the nose. If the dot becomes doubled, go back to the previous dot and try again.

As a person moves along the card, the dots before and after the one they are focusing on become double. This doubling of the image is normal and should not be concerning.

The aim of this exercise is to get to a point where the person can focus on the dot closest to the nose without it becoming two images.

4. Stereograms

To do this exercise, a person will need a stereogram from an orthoptist or doctor. A stereogram is a picture with two incomplete images that can overlap to form one complete image.

  1. Hold the stereogram at arm’s length in one hand.
  2. In the other hand, hold a pen or similar object in front of the stereogram.
  3. Concentrate on the top of the object, then slowly move it toward the nose.
  4. While focusing on the top of the object, be aware of the stereogram in the background.
  5. As the object gets closer to the nose, the stereogram should appear to split into two images.
  6. Once the object is about halfway toward the nose, the two split images should overlap to form a third image.

After performing these eye exercises, people should allow their eyes to relax. They can rest their eyes by closing them for a minute or looking into the distance.

The effectiveness of eye exercises may vary depending on the underlying cause of symptoms. For example, cataracts can cause double vision, but effective treatments may include new glasses, brighter lights at home, or surgery.

According to the National Eye Institute, it can take 12 weeks or more to notice improvements in people with convergence insufficiency.

Symptoms such as double vision may also return if a person is ill, gets too little sleep, or does lots of activities that involve close vision.

People with double vision should speak with a healthcare professional to learn the cause of their visual symptoms and discuss whether eye exercises may benefit them.

Many conditions can cause a person to experience double vision. These include:

  • cataracts
  • problems with the shape of the cornea, such as keratoconus
  • a refractive error, such as astigmatism
  • corneal scarring
  • paralysis of the nerves that control the muscles that move the eye
  • myasthenia gravis, which is an autoimmune condition that causes muscle weakness
  • trauma to the head, eye socket, or eye muscles
  • dry eyes
  • aneurysm
  • a brain tumor
  • multiple sclerosis
  • diabetes
  • convergence insufficiency

However, eye exercises can only help with certain causes of double vision. For example, these exercises may not improve double vision unrelated to eye muscle issues or vascular issues that cause sudden double vision.

People should speak with a doctor if they experience double vision to learn the underlying cause of their symptoms.

Although double vision is not usually serious, people should speak with their doctor to find out what is causing it. They can perform some eye tests and may refer the person to an eye specialist, if necessary.

Treatment for double vision will depend on the cause. People can discuss the best treatment with their doctor.

A person should seek immediate medical attention if they have sudden double vision or if double vision occurs alongside:

Although double vision is not usually serious, it can occur due to serious underlying health conditions.

A person with double vision due to convergence insufficiency may be able to relieve it using certain eye exercises.

Anyone with double vision, even if it is only temporary, should contact a doctor to determine the cause. Anyone who experiences double vision along with any other worrying symptoms should seek medical help immediately.