Anisocoria: Why is one pupil bigger than the other?

Look at your eyes carefully in a mirror. Does one pupil look noticeably larger or smaller than the other? If so, you may have anisocoria.

Anisocoria definition

Anisocoria ("an-eye-so-CORE-ee-ah") means you have unequal pupils. One pupil may be bigger than normal (dilated), or one pupil may be smaller than normal (constricted), resulting in different-sized pupils.

Causes of anisocoria

Many cases of mild anisocoria are normal and do not have any underlying pathology or history of trauma. Generally, these cases of anisocoria where one pupil is bigger than the other by less than 1.0 mm with no apparent cause are called simple anisocoria, benign anisocoria or physiologic anisocoria.

In one study of the prevalence of anisocoria, researchers photographed the pupils of 128 normal subjects in dim light for five consecutive days. Photographs were taken in the morning and afternoon each day.

Fifty-two of the subjects (41%) had an anisocoria of 0.4 mm or more at one time or another during these five days. At any given photo session, a fairly constant number of subjects (19%) showed this amount of mild anisocoria.

The prevalence of anisocoria did not vary with the time of day or from day to day; nor was it influenced by the sex, age or eye colour of the subject.

Other research also suggests approximately 20% of the general population has mild benign anisocoria.

Significant anisocoria, however, can have a number of causes, and some can be medical problems. Causes of significant anisocoria (one pupil bigger than the other by more than 1.0 mm) include:

• Eye trauma. For example, read about David Bowie's eyes below.

• Certain eye medications. For example, pilocarpine eye drops used to treat glaucoma may cause the pupil of the treated eye to be smaller than the other pupil.

• Inflammation of the iris. Iritis (anterior uveitis) can cause anisocoria that usually is accompanied by eye pain.

• Adie's tonic pupil. This benign condition (also called Adie's pupil, tonic pupil or Adie's syndrome) typically causes one pupil to be noticeably bigger than the other. The affected pupil also does not react to light. In most cases, the cause of Adie's pupil is unknown. But it can be associated with eye trauma (including trauma caused by complicated cataract surgery), lack of blood flow (ischemia) or an infection.

• Neurological disorders. A number of conditions that damage nerves in the brain or spinal cord can cause anisocoria. One of the most significant of these is Horner's syndrome [see below]. People with nervous system disorders that cause anisocoria often also have a drooping eyelid, double vision and/or strabismus. Brain disorders associated with anisocoria include strokes, hemorrhage (spontaneous or due to head injury) and, less commonly, certain tumors or infections.

Horner's syndrome

The three classic symptoms of Horner's syndrome (sometimes called Horner syndrome or Horners syndrome) are:

• Ptosis (drooping eyelid)

• Miosis (constriction of one pupil, causing anisocoria)

• Facial anhidrosis (loss of sweating around the affected eye)

Horner's syndrome also can be differentiated from simple (benign) anisocoria by how quickly the pupil dilates in dim lighting. Normal pupils (including normal pupils that are slightly unequal in size) dilate within five seconds of room lights being dimmed. A pupil affected by Horner's syndrome generally takes 10 to 20 seconds to dilate in dim lighting or a darkened room.

Horner's syndrome typically is caused by an underlying medical problem, such as a stroke, tumor or spinal cord injury. But in some cases, no cause can be found.

There is no specific treatment for Horner's syndrome, but if it is associated with an identified medical problem, treatment of that condition might resolve the symptoms of Horner's, including anisocoria.

David Bowie's eyes

One of the most distinctive physical features of the late singer, songwriter and producer David Bowie was his eyes.

Many people believe his eyes were different colours — a condition called heterochromia. But the real reason for David Bowie's eyes being so striking was anisocoria.

Bowie was born with blue eyes. But a fistfight with a friend when they were teenagers left one of his eyes permanently dilated, giving that eye a much darker appearance.

What to do if you have anisocoria

If you or someone else notices that you have one pupil bigger than the other, see your optician immediately — especially if you have any of the following:

• Drooping eyelid (ptosis)

• Double vision

• Loss of vision

• Headache or neck pain

• Eye pain

• Recent head or eye injury

If the difference in pupil size is minor and your pupils react normally to tests your optician performs, there may be nothing to worry about. But you should have your unequal pupils evaluated by an eye care professional before you assume all is well.

If you have benign anisocoria and one pupil is bigger than the other, ask your optician about photochromic lenses. These eyeglass lenses will darken automatically in sunlight to reduce any light sensitivity (photophobia) you may be experiencing.

Photochromic lenses also will protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and high-energy blue light — especially the eye with the larger pupil if it doesn't react normally to light.

Page published on Monday, 6 July 2020