Diplopia: the role of the ophthalmic medical assistant

1. One of the roles of the Ophthalmic Medical Assistant (OMA) is to provide the physician with as much clinical information as possible to assist in the diagnosis and management of patients whose chief complaint is "double vision". 2. Because diplopia can be associated with a variety of medical causes, it is important to obtain a very detailed medical, neurologic, and ocular history, along with examination of ocular motor function. 3. The OMA plays an important role in the evaluation of diplopia. The evaluation of diplopia can be complex, but, with proper assessment of the patient, most causes can be identified in the office.