Eyes/pupils different size

Disease	Injury	Nutrition	Poison

Special Topic	Surgery	Symptoms	Test

Overview

Treatment

Eyes/pupils different size

Definition:

This condition occurs when one pupil is a different size from the other one.

Alternative Names:

Enlargement of one pupil; Pupils of different size; Anisocoria

Considerations:

Occasionally, differing pupil size is inherited and there is no underlying disorder. If other family members also have this condition, then pupil size is probably genetic and is nothing to worry about.

Occasionally, and for unknown reasons, pupils may differ in size. If there are no other symptoms and if the pupils return to normal, then the transient condition is nothing to worry about.

Head injuries that cause differing pupil sizes are usually curable with early recognition of danger signs and medical treatment. Complications, however, can be life-threatening or cause permanent disability.

Common Causes:

Bleeding inside the skull caused by head injury
Brain tumor or abscess
Infection of membranes around the brain caused by meningitis or encephalitis
Expanding brain lesion such as an aneurysm
Excess pressure in one eye caused by glaucoma
Birth injury, tumor in the chest, or lymph-node pressure that may be accompanied by decreased sweating on the side with a dilated pupil or drooping eyelid on the affected side
Eye-drops

Review Date: 7/14/2001
Reviewed By: Galit Kleiner-Fisman, M.D., FRCP, Department of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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