To evaluate the clinical features, causes and outcomes of patients with diplopia.

All patients presenting with diplopia from October 2010 to March 2012 and followed up for more than 3 months were retrospectively investigated.

During the study period, 59 patients with diplopia were identified. There were 42 males and 17 females with an average age of 50 years. Binocular diplopia accounted for 54 cases (92%) and 5 cases (8%) had monocular diplopia. Cranial nerve palsies were the most common cause of binocular diplopia (28 cases, 52%). Within the cranial nerve palsies group, 14 cases (50%) were accompanied by hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Binocular diplopia spontaneously resolved in 35 cases (65%) by 3 months rising to 41 cases (76%) by 7 months. Thirteen (93%) out of 14 cases of cranial nerve palsies with hypertension or diabetes resolved spontaneously by 3 months.

Binocular diplopia was caused most commonly by cranial nerve palsy and resolved after 3 months in 65% of patients. A spontaneous recovery from diplopia was observed after 3 months in 93% of patients with cranial nerve palsies and microvascular disease such as hypertension or diabetes. Therefore, the initial observation without additional treatment would be sufficient in these patients.