When do you worry about your pupils??

[annoyingwife21]

I just have to get this out there!!
My left pupil is larger than my right pupil in normal lighting. If I take a flashlight to my eye they both constrict to the same size and when I turn off the lights they both get large.
I know I have horrible HA- I thought I had melanoma a few days ago until I went to the dermatologist and she told me I am fine.
I feel like my left eye hurts but I know its because I am thinking and focusing on that eye so much. The other concern I had was I was working out and my left pupil got bigger than my right pupil and was throbbing! It was freaky.
I can't keep running to the doctor every week, it's expensive and my husband is getting impatient with me. Is this ok??? Or do I need to go the doctor? When do you worry about your pupils??

[mollyfin]

20% of people have differently sized pupils - I do myself.  Sometimes they're a lot closer in size than other times.  I'm guessing it has to do with lighting.  I wouldn't fret about it.

[Echo Hotel]

Yes, pupils can be different sizes. As long as they constrict at the same time and dilate at the same time, there's really nothing to worry about.

[sixpack]

my daughter will have times of anisocoria (sp) which means different sized pupils.  it is no big thing.  She saw an optha and all about it.  This was noted about 3yrs ago. It went away and I haven't noted it since.  AND I've had pupils of different sizes.  I think I watched that phenomena for several months  a year or two ago.

You know that our pupils are controlled by two muscles.  We also know that peeps with anxiety often have muscles that don't react just right.  they are somewhat amped up or tense.  In my opinion, the pupil muscles, being that they are muscles too, can be just as affected by anxiety and stress as any other muscle.

I have read, here maybe, and an article or two, that anxiety and stress can affect pupil size too--but haven't been able to find those particular sources just now.  I also did my own perusal of  the google man------yes most of what you find with pupil stuff is "scary" stuff.  You won't find much that says anxiety will cause it and what not.  BUT it should be noted that there quite a few--many actually--anxiety forums (I just spent about 10 or 15 min doing a quick read) that have people posting about unequal pupil sizes.  So it seems like a fairly common phenomena.  Our eyes are fairly easily affected by stress and anxiety.  I am currently under an opthamologists care for fluid (blood vessels) leaking behind my retina in my right eye.  It is called central serous chorioretinopathy and it is caused by excess cortisol being produced in my body which caused the blood vessels to leak behind my retina.  All brought on by the extreme emotional stress in my life in the last month that included the death of my mother.   In most cases, once the stress is relieved, the condition resolves itself.  It can take around 2 months to do so.  If not, according to info I've read online, I may require laser surgery.       BUT in the interim I have to deal with some pretty substantial vision issues.    SO if I can leak fluid behind one eye, it isn't sooooo hard to conclude that our pupils can be a bit off due to cortisol production, imo.

So I am going to go back to my earlier statement-----and inspite of the dearth of information confirming that "yes anxiety/stress can cause unequal pupils"--- and say that I think the muscles in the pupils can be just as affected by stress/anxiety as any other muscle in the body.  Further I will say if we pay a lot of attention to it, it will only get worse or appear to do so.


now having said all of that, if you want to see an opthamologist, it is your prerogative.  I mean when my daughter had it, I took her to an optha.  AND when I my eye issue started up, I went to the opthamologist myself.   remember anxiety/stress is TOUGH on a body.    This  is why it is imperative that we get anxiety under control.  While we can't always control the stress in our lives, we have to learn how to be kind to ourselves.

[annoyingwife21]

I greatly appreciate your reply sixpack, that is really nice that you put forth so much effort to reply so well to people's post.
I don't know when  I will learn not to google!
I did a test this AM and when I first woke up and was calm I went and looked in the mirror and pupils were the exact same. Then I went a panicky state later because I didn't understand why they were different sizes after I worked out and low and behold I went and looked in the mirror and the left one was bigger agian!! It frustrates me so much!! So- I think I just worry about brain tumor, or anyeurism. My left temple didn't hurt when I woke up but after I started freaking out it did. I do have myopia in my left eye and 20/20 vision in my right so- I don't know if that can play a role in this.
I am trying my hardest to practice self control and not run out of the house and go to the eye doctor!

[vardnas]

I did a test this AM and when I first woke up and was calm I went and looked in the mirror and pupils were the exact same. Then I went a panicky state later because I didn't understand why they were different sizes after I worked out and low and behold I went and looked in the mirror and the left one was bigger agian!! It frustrates me so much!! So- I think I just worry about brain tumor, or anyeurism.

I have had the uneven pupils, too and it is freaky, you're right—but apply your own logic here:  your pupils were fine in the morning when you were in a self-professed calm state and then later, when you were panicky, they were of two different sizes. Okay, what does that tell you? If you had a brain tumor, your pupils wouldn't be going from fine to not fine and back again. Same thing with an aneurism. Uneven pupils are VERY common in anxiety sufferers. Mine were totally uneven for months and didn't go back to normal until after I got my stress down. I like sixpack's theory that it's a muscle issue. My old nutritionist had mentioned that the adrenal glands play a roll in it as well. Whatever the case, stress is the cause! We must learn to NOT freak out when we notice these odd things in our bodies; that only adds fuel to the fire and makes it worse. So does self-checking. Don't want to see your uneven pupils—stop looking at them! All of this is easier said then done though, I know, but this is our uphill battle.

[annoyingwife21]

Thank you very much for your responses. I will try (try) not to look at them! Its hard not to. I did have my husband check them to day and when I was relaxed they are fine, stressed and they are unequal. I to have all the symptoms of adrenal fatigue so I am sure that is it. Thanks for your support you guys help a lot.