Giant Cell Arteritis

Hi, can someone help with describing what the double vision element is with GCA? Most of the time my eye sight feels ok... except at certain distances say watching a game of football I see two copies of the player.. if I close one eye it’s ok! Also when driving I don’t necessarily see two cars as I wouldn’t drive but it not quite normal... does this sound like what others experience? Or not GCA related. I do get headaches just above temple or side of head.. but tend to be short pain then clears ... thanks

[SheffieldJane]

You really need doctor involvement with these symptoms, and they’ve been dragging on for too long. I hope that you have an experienced Opthalmologist to call upon.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

I never had double vision - but it can be caused by other things - nhs site -

nhs.uk/conditions/double-vi...

And if your headaches are intermittent I would doubt they are GCA, those are normally like nothing you’ve ever experienced before - but you do need to get your eyes tested as soon as you can.

[jinasc]

You don't take chances with GCA - Rheumy telephone call needed. If it is something else going on and not GCA, then that is not a problem at all.

[Orpheus82]

Hi. I work in an eye clinic and although double vision is listed as a symptom of GCA, in practise it is not a common presenting problem. If you are experiencing double vision at distance which goes when you cover either eye then it is most likely that it is a muscle imbalance. There are a host of causes and I cannot speculate further but you do need to seek a referral to an ophthalmologist. Most large eye units have an eye casualty and they are still seeing emergencies. If you are unable to contact them then best to speak to your GP. Also I would suggest that you avoid driving until you have been examined. Although you haven’t experienced double vision when driving it could suddenly appear. Do hope you are seen soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You can only have double vision when using both eyes together. But as Orpheus says, it needs checking out. It could be as simple as your eye muscles getting tired.

[Omanain in reply to PMRpro]

Interestingly that's what I thought, until my sister developed double vision in one eye - monocular vision. Seemingly it is not particularly uncommon!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Omanain]

Mmmmm - certainly isn't! Wonder how the mechanism works!!!

health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/d...

Ah so!!!!

[membership]

My GCA presented with a headache which would not go away and double vision... nothing else. Looking ahead I could see an image which slowly became two.. I was watching diving on TV which became perfect syncronised diving. My GP was useless, so I went to my optician (ASDA Sheffield) he immediately made arrangements for me to go to Eye Casualty. I am so grateful to him, since I now realise I could have gone blind... my VIth Cranial nerve was paralysed. within 48 hours of 60mg pred. my eyesight returned to normal and it has been ever since. GO NOW and get treatment.. don’t lose your sight.

[tangocharlie]

I have double vision vision at a certain distance because my eyes are wonky and don't work together to fuse an image like they should. Basically one eye focuses at short distance and one at long so at mid distance the brain gets confused as to which eye should be doing the job so gives me two objects. I've always had it. If yours is a sudden change you should get it checked out.

[Jan_Noack]

Does anyone ever get one pupil large and one small, double vision when a doc holds a finger uo you have to follow as well as a bit blurry ..at the same time my balance would be off, but I could still walk and very tired. I havent't had this since a year ago.. but wondering if it's anything related that anyone recognises at all