Nonsurgical Treatment for Double Vision

Your NYU Langone neuro-ophthalmologist may recommend occlusion therapy, in which you wear an eye patch over one eye, to manage double vision. The goal is to eliminate double vision by blocking the images produced by one eye.

The doctor may recommend using a soft patch with an elastic headband. Opaque tape attached to an eyeglass lens can have the same effect.

Occlusion therapy is typically used until double vision resolves. Your doctor monitors your progress during follow-up visits, which typically occur every two to three months.

You may notice improvements in vision within a few weeks, but the desired results can take longer. After double vision resolves, the patch is not needed.

A prism is a wedge-shaped piece of glass or plastic that bends the light that shines through it. A Fresnel prism, made of thin, transparent plastic, is attached to your eyeglass lens to help manage binocular double vision.

You may need to wear a prism for several months. The strength can be adjusted to suit your eyes. If a Fresnel prism is successful, you can have eyeglasses made with a prism built into one of the lenses.

The vision therapists at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation offer comprehensive visual perceptual rehabilitation for people who have hand–eye coordination problems or visual perceptual difficulties resulting from a stroke, brain injury, or other neurological disorder.

Our occupational therapists work with your doctor to develop specialized treatments that address your needs. During treatment, therapists work closely with you to improve your ability to perform everyday tasks, such as reading, writing, cooking, shopping, and traveling safely.