What Could Make One Pupil Bigger than the Other?
Anisocoria is a physical condition characterized by one pupil being bigger than the other. A variety of disorders can cause this irregularity, including Adie's pupil and Horner syndrome. It also might be caused by damage to the iris sphincter, parasympathetic innervation failure, oculomotor nerve palsy or other causes. The severity of these causes ranges from harmless to potentially fatal.
About 20% of people have mild, physiologic anisocoria. In most cases, the size of the pupil can change at random during the course of the day. Patients who have additional symptoms in combination with irregular pupil size might have a more serious disorder.
Adie's pupil is a condition that usually affects women between the ages of 20 and 40 that is caused by a viral infection in the nerve tissues of the eye. This condition is generally benign and does not cause serious physical damage, and there is no specific treatment for it. On occasion, patients might also suffer from irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure when rising to a standing position, a loss of reflexes and areas of the skin that no longer produce sweat. This condition is called Adie syndrome, and is treated with changes to the patient's diet and lifestyle.
Another condition that can make one pupil bigger than the other is called Horner syndrome, and it is typically accompanied by a slightly droopy eyelid. This disorder usually is a symptom of a more serious problem rather than a disease in itself. Some patients develop Horner syndrome because of a brain injury or stroke. Other possible causes include lung cancer, damage to the spinal cord or damage to the carotid artery. Many of the disorders that cause this condition can be life-threatening.
In the case of Horner syndrome, one pupil appears bigger than the other because the pupil of the affected eye is smaller. Both pupils react to bright light at equal rates. Some patients also stop sweating or perspire less on one side of the face than on the other.
A patient might also have one pupil bigger than the other if he or she experiences damage to the iris sphincter. The normally round iris develops an irregular shape, and the eye might be swollen or inflamed. A medical professional can examine the eye to look for damage to the muscles.
There are several other reasons for having pupils of different sizes, including parasympathetic innervation failure, which is a condition in which the pupil is no longer able to contract normally and remains dilated. A disorder such as third cranial nerve or oculomotor nerve palsy can cause this secondary condition. Migraine headaches, eye infections, exposure to atropine-based medications and prior eye surgeries can also leave one pupil bigger than the other.
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![Anatomy of the human eye.]()
Anatomy of the human eye. -
![A droopy eyelid may be a sign of Horner's disease, which influences pupil size.]()
A droopy eyelid may be a sign of Horner's disease, which influences pupil size. -
![Pupil size changes throughout the day.]()
By: Johanna GoodyearPupil size changes throughout the day. -
![Migraines can cause one pupil to be larger than the other.]()
By: hrianaMigraines can cause one pupil to be larger than the other. -
![Damage to the spinal cord may cause Horner syndrome.]()
By: dimdimichDamage to the spinal cord may cause Horner syndrome.
Discussion Comments
@pleonasm - No, if they are looking for one pupil larger than the other, it means they are looking for something more serious than concussion (although concussion can be both more and less serious than people expect).
Concussion (they usually call it Mild Traumatic Brain Injury now) just means the brain has been shaken up. It has a wide range of symptoms, which can include everything from a mild seizure, to brain fog. Sometimes it's fairly serious and persistent, sometimes it's mild and goes away quickly.
But, if something is affecting the pupils, particularly if it occurs some time after the accident, that means there is a more severe problem going on and the person needs to go to hospital ASAP.
I think Horner syndrome is the one that people look for if someone might have concussion or a brain injury. I assume that's why doctors on TV will say that "her pupil's blown" when there is a brain injury, or bleeding in the brain and I assume one pupil is bigger than the other one.
With that said, if you have had a very hard knock to the head, don't just rely on whether or not your pupils are OK. Go and get checked out by the doctor as well. Sometimes you can have a tiny brain bleed that doesn't show up for a while.
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