Anisocoria is a medical term used to describe when pupils have different sizes, one more dilated than the other. Anisocoria itself causes no symptoms, but what can cause it can cause symptoms such as light sensitivity, pain, or blurred vision.
Anisocoria usually occurs when there is a problem in the nervous system or eyes, and therefore it is very important to quickly go to the ophthalmologist or hospital to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment.
- There are also people who may have students of different sizes on a daily basis.
- But in these situations it is not usually a sign of trouble.
- It is only a characteristic of the body.
- Thus.
- The anisocoria should only be alarming when it appears at any time.
- Or after accidents for example.
There are several causes for the appearance of students of different sizes, however, the most common are:
When you suffer a severe blow to the head, due to a traffic accident or during a high-impact sport, for example, a head injury may develop, in which small fractures appear in the skull. Eventually, this can cause bleeding in the brain, which can put pressure on an area of the brain that controls the eyes, causing anisocoria.
Thus, if anisocoria occurs after a blow to the head, it can be an important sign of brain hemorrhage, for example. But in these cases, other symptoms may also occur, such as nose or ear bleeding, severe headaches or confusion, and loss of balance. Learn more about head trauma and its signs.
What to do: Medical care should be called immediately, calling 192 and avoiding moving the neck, especially after a traffic accident, as there may also be spinal injuries.
In many cases of migraine, the pain can end up touching the eyes, which can cause not only the drooping of an eyelid, but also the dilation of one of the pupils.
Normally, to determine whether anisocoria is caused by a migraine, it is advisable to assess whether there are other signs of migraine such as very severe headaches, especially on one side of the head, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating or sensitivity to noise.
What to do: A good way to relieve migraine pain is to rest in a dark and quiet room, to avoid external stimuli, however, there are also remedies that your doctor may recommend if migraine is common. Another option is to take an artemis infusion, as it is a plant that helps relieve headaches and migraines. Here’s how to make this tea.
Inflammation of the optic nerve, also known as optic neuritis, can occur from several causes, but it usually occurs in people with autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, or viral infections, such as chickenpox or tuberculosis. When it occurs, this inflammation prevents information from the brain to the eye and, if it affects only one eye, can cause anisocoria.
Other common symptoms of optic nerve inflammation include vision loss, pain when moving eyes, and even difficulty distinguishing colors.
What to do: Inflammation of the optic nerve should be treated with steroids prescribed by your doctor and treatment should usually be started with injections directly into the vein. Therefore, it is advisable to go to the hospital immediately if symptoms of eye changes occur in people with autoimmune diseases or viral infections.
In addition to head injuries, any brain disorder, such as a developing tumor, aneurysm, or even a stroke, can put pressure on a part of the brain and eventually alter the size of the pupils.
So if this change occurs for no apparent reason or if it is accompanied by symptoms such as tingling in one part of the body, feeling weak or weak on one side of the body, you should go to the hospital.
What to do: Whenever a brain disorder is suspected, you should go to the hospital to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment. Learn more about treating brain tumors, aneurysms, or strokes.
This is a very rare syndrome in which one of the pupils does not react to light, being constantly dilated, as if it were still in a dark place. Thus, this type of anisocoria can be more easily identified when exposed to the sun or during a flash shooting, for example.
Although not a serious problem, it can cause other symptoms such as blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light, and frequent headaches.
What to do: This syndrome does not have a specific treatment, however, the ophthalmologist may advise the use of glasses with degree to correct blurred and blurred vision, as well as the use of sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun, reducing sensitivity.
Some medications may cause anisocoria after use, such as clonidine, different types of eye drops, adhesive scopolamine and aerosol ipratropium, in case of contact with the eye. In addition to these, the use of other substances, such as cocaine, or contact with animal spray collars or aerosols or organophosphorous materials may also cause changes in pupil size.
What to do: In case of substance poisoning or reactions after medication use, it is recommended to consult a doctor to avoid complications or call 192 and seek help. If anisocoria is due to the use of medications and the associated symptoms are present, the doctor should be sent back to evaluate the change or suspension of the medicine.
In almost all cases of anisocoria, it is advisable to consult a doctor to identify the cause, however, this can be an emergency when signs such as:
In these cases, you should get to the hospital quickly, as these symptoms may indicate a more serious infection or problems, which cannot be treated in your doctor’s office.