What is the medical term for double vision?

The term "diplopia" specifically refers to the condition of double vision, where a person sees two images of a single object either side by side or on top of each other. This occurs when the eyes do not properly align, which can be due to a variety of causes such as muscle imbalances, neurological disorders, or other eye-related issues. Understanding this term is important for diagnosing and treating conditions that may lead to visual disturbances, ultimately helping in the appropriate management of patients experiencing double vision.

In contrast, monocularity refers to the use of one eye, dysphoria describes a state of unease or dissatisfaction, and hemianopia is a visual field loss on one side of the vertical midline. Each of these terms pertains to different visual and psychological conditions, highlighting the specificity of the term "diplopia" in the medical lexicon for addressing double vision.