According to the American Optometric Association, approximately 80% of what a child learns in school is acquired through vision, and […]
If you notice that you or a loved one has different sized pupils, it’s important to understand the potential causes and to know when to be checked by an eyecare professional.
The pupils in our eyes are the black circular part at the front of the eye which allows light into the back of the eye. The size of the pupil changes depending if you are in a brightly lit environment versus a dark one. In a dark setting, the pupils widen in order to take in as much light as possible. In contrast, in bright light, the pupils constrict.
Anisocoria is a medical term used when the pupils are different sizes. One in five people don’t have pupils that are exactly the same size, but the difference is small and insignificant, often a 1mm difference between both eyes. This is considered to be physiological anisocoria which causes no harm. However, there are conditions which cause the pupils to differ in size and it can be a sign of a serious medical disease.
Some medical causes of anisocoria include:
If you notice a sudden change in the size of one of your pupils, especially if it occurs after an injury or along with other symptoms, it’s important to seek medical care right away. It is not necessarily a harmful phenomenon but it does need to be checked as soon as possible because some of the possible causes are serious and require immediate medical care. Please schedule an appointment at our office and we will do our best to accommodate an appointment right away. If that is not possible we will guide you to the best urgent care facility.
It can be hard to notice a change in the size of your pupils, especially if your pupils blend in with a dark colored iris, as opposed to someone who has light blue eyes. Sometimes anisocoria occurs with other symptoms which are more noticeable, such as:
If you notice any of these symptoms along with different sized pupils or experience sudden changes in your vision, please schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor in Olympia.
Most of the time anisocoria does not require treatment as it does not affect the health of your eyes or your vision. If it does happen to affect your vision, your eye doctor may be able to prescribe appropriate glasses that can help with the issue. If the difference in pupil size is due to a medical condition, this underlying cause will be treated appropriately. If you have any questions or concerns regarding anisocoria, make sure to consult with your eye doctor who can guide you, diagnose the condition and recommend the proper treatment.
Many cases of anisocoria cannot be prevented as it could be physiological or due to medical conditions that can’t be avoided. However, anisocoria could be related to eye injuries and it’s important to do what we can to avoid such circumstances. If you are engaged in any activities that pose a threat to your eyes, it is crucial to ensure that you are wearing the proper protective gear in order to prevent trauma to the eyes.
Physiological anisocoria is a common phenomenon, found in approximately 20% of the population. It is not harmful and it’s a very minor difference in the size of both pupils. There are other types of anisocoria which present with a more significant inequality of sizes between the pupils. This could be harmless or it could be caused by an underlying medical condition. If you suddenly notice that one pupil is bigger or smaller than the other, especially after trauma to the eye or if it comes with other symptoms, please book an immediate appointment at our office by calling (360) 491-2121. Regardless of the type of anisocoria, it is important to get it checked by the eye doctor for a proper diagnosis and discussion of treatment, if relevant. Patients searching for advanced medical eye care visit our clinic from all over Washington, and we are proud to be a leading provider of medical eye care services for patients from Olympia, Lakewood, Tacoma, and Lacey.
Such a nice optician. My grandson is only 4 and needs glasses. We were so sad, but he explained the issues, and we will follow up as he suggested.
I had such a good experience with the clinic. Very friendly staff and doctor, did not have to wait for long to be called, and was treated respectfully. Thanks, American Family.
Dr. Zurcher has gone above and beyond what any other eye doctor has ever done to figure out what is going on with my eyes. Very happy with American Family Vision.
Family Vision Clinic changed our lives! My daughter was frequently car sick, and she was getting headaches every day, often painful enough that they brought her to tears. We saw a string of doctors and therapists, but we made no progress. Finally, we found Dr. Levi Zurcher and his eye therapist Rain. After ten weeks of eye therapy my daughter no longer gets headaches, and she no longer gets car sick. Daily tears are a thing of the past. I really can’t say enough about this clinic. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Zurcher work. For the first time, someone who knew what they were doing was intently studying my daughter, really trying to figure out all of her eye issues, and his therapist Rain is one of the most patient and lovely people that I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. We’re finished with eye therapy—yay!—and I have switched to American Family Vision Clinic for all of my family’s other eye health needs.
Very professional, yet kind and helpful. They do what they can to make the appointment comfortable. I was running a bit late, I made sure ti call. They were able to switch me with a patient who was already there, they treated me with respect, and helped my son have confidence by getting him the eye care he needed that day. Thank you so much! Would recommend to anyone. It's a blessing that they care enough to work with people who have all different types of insurance from work to state coverage.
The staff is friendly. The Doc is very knowledgeable. The office is family friendly and everyone is so patient with the little ones.
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