How to Manage Anisocoria

Anisocoria is a condition that involves uneven pupil size. The pupil is the black dot located at the center of the eye and controls the amount of light that enters the eye. Sometimes, individuals can be born with anisocoria and not have any problems with the condition, particularly if it is an inherited condition. There are other mild forms of anisocoria that are not considered life threatening, such as reactions to eye drops and asthma medications.In some cases individuals develop uneven pupils as an adult. They are consistent with certain types health conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis, brain tumors, an existing tumor in the chest or Horner’s syndrome. Treatment of anisocoria is largely dependent upon its underlying pathophysiology or the type of disease it occurs with.

Things You'll Need

• Medications
• Reading glasses
• Sunglasses
• Surgeons

Instructions

Management for Anisocoria

1. Administer cortisone to decrease swelling of the brain such as in the case of encephalitis.

2. 

   Take pain medications prescribed by the doctor if anisocoria is accompanied with severe pain in the affected eye.

3. Control seizures in anisocoria cases associated with brain disorders through the use of anticonvulsant drugs.

4. 

   Undergo antibiotic therapy for cases that involve pathogenic infections such as meningitis.

5. Let the physician prescribe drugs that interfere the growth of tumors (anticancer drugs) if anisocoria is associated with tumor in the brain or chest.

6. 

   Wear reading glasses to deal with insistent unequal adjustment of the eyes.

7. Put on sunglasses to correct existence of glare in cases of mydriasis (excessive or prolonged dilatation of the pupil).

8. 

   Schedule ophthalmic surgery for cases associated with traumatic defect in the iris.

9. Consult vascular surgeon in anisocoria cases caused by Horner syndrome.

Tips & Warnings

• Sudden changes in pupil size must be taken seriously.