- 5 main causes of anisocoria
- 1. Strikes on the head
- 2. Migraine
- 3. Inflammation of the optic nerve
- 4. Brain tumor, aneurysm or stroke
- 5. Adie's pupil
- When to go to the doctor
Anisocoria is a medical term used to describe when the pupils are different sizes, with one that is more dilated than the other, which can generate other symptoms such as sensitivity to light, pain or blurred vision.
Usually, anisocoria happens when there is a problem in the nervous system or in the eyes, so it is very important to go quickly to the ophthalmologist or the hospital to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment.
There are also some people who may have different sized pupils on a daily basis, but in these situations it is usually not a sign of a problem, it is just a feature of the body. Thus, anisocoria should only be a cause for alarm when it arises from one moment to the next, or after accidents, for example.
5 main causes of anisocoria
There are several causes for the appearance of different sized pupils, however, the most common ones include:
1. Strikes on the head
When you suffer a severe blow to the head, due to a traffic accident or during a high-impact sport, for example, head trauma can develop, in which small fractures appear in the skull. This can end up causing a hemorrhage in the brain, which can put pressure on some region of the brain that controls the eyes, causing anisocoria.
Thus, if anisocoria arises after a blow to the head, it can be an important sign of cerebral hemorrhage, for example. But in these cases, other symptoms such as bleeding from the nose or ears, severe headache or confusion and loss of balance may also appear. Learn more about head trauma and its signs.
- What to do: medical assistance should be called immediately, calling 192 and avoiding moving your neck, especially after traffic accidents, as there may also be spinal injuries.
2. Migraine
In several cases of migraine, the pain can end up affecting the eyes, which can cause not only the drop of one eyelid, but also the dilation of one of the pupils.
Typically, to identify whether anisocoria is being caused by a migraine, you need to assess whether other signs of migraine are present such as very severe headache 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 some remedies that can be recommended by the doctor if the migraine is frequent. Another option is to take a mugwort tea, as it is a plant that helps to relieve headaches and migraines. Here's how to prepare this tea.
3. Inflammation of the optic nerve
Inflammation of the optic nerve, also known as optic neuritis, can happen due to several causes, but it usually arises in people with autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, or with viral infections, such as chicken pox or tuberculosis. When it arises, this inflammation prevents the passage of information from the brain to the eye and, if it affects only one eye, it can lead to anisocoria.
Other common symptoms in cases of inflammation of the optic nerve include loss of vision, pain to move the eye and even difficulty in distinguishing colors.
- What to do: The inflammation of the optic nerve needs to be treated with steroids prescribed by the doctor and, usually, treatment needs to be started with injections directly into the vein. Therefore, it is advisable to go to the hospital immediately if symptoms of changes in the eye appear in people with autoimmune diseases or with a viral infection.
4. Brain tumor, aneurysm or stroke
In addition to head trauma, any brain disorder such as a developing tumor, an aneurysm or even a stroke, can put pressure on a part of the brain and end up changing 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 some part of the body, feeling faint or weakness 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. See more about treating brain tumor, aneurysm or stroke.
5. Adie's pupil
This is a very rare syndrome in which one of the pupils does not react to the light, being constantly dilated, as if it were always in a dark place. Thus, this type of anisocoria can be more easily identified when it is exposed to the sun or when taking a photograph with flash, for example.
Although not a serious problem, it can cause other symptoms such as blurred vision, difficulty in focusing, sensitivity to light and frequent headache.
- What to do: this syndrome has no specific treatment, however, the ophthalmologist can advise the use of glasses with a degree to correct blurred and blurred vision, as well as the use of sunglasses to protect against sunlight, reducing the sensitivity.
When to go to the doctor
In almost all cases of anisocoria it is advisable to consult a doctor to identify the cause, however, it can be an emergency when signs such as:
- Fever above 38ºC; Pain when moving the neck; Feeling faint; Loss of vision.
In these cases, you should go to the hospital quickly as these symptoms can indicate an infection or more serious problems, which cannot be treated in the doctor's office.
