One pupil larger than other

[ej23]

Have just noticed that my 7 wk old dd has one pupil more dilated than than the other. Am sure would have noticed it before so must be a recent change. Am going to ring GP tomorrow as feeling quite anxious. Anyone else had this?

David Bowie, and he turned out marvellously!

Have you only noticed it recently? Go to the GP but if they can see well / not in pain it's probably fine!

I am saying this based on no experience but I would call out of hours now just to see what they say.

You should get it checked out, as it can be a symptom of an underlying condition.

But don't worry too Much; Ds has this and was referred after the school optition check. We had him cheeked out with a specialist and he was fine. They said it can be genetic and there would probably be someone else in the family with the same thing.

I noticed a few days after, when applying mascara, that it was me. 34 years and I hadn't noticed!

That's reassuring notquitenormal, thanks. Have been doing bit of googling and looking through old MN threads and more common than you'd think. It seems more noticeable in dim light when one isn't as dilated as the other but in brighter light both pupils shrink to the same size. No other symptoms but will def ring GP's tomorrow.

Yes, ds3 had this. I think he would have been a few months old when I first noticed it. Noticeable only in dim light when they were dilated. I mentioned it to both the GP (when I was there anyway) and to the optician (when I was there with his brother). Neither were the least bit concerned. He was later diagnosed with a lazy eye - the same as his brother and I wondered if this might have been an early indication but when I spoke to the ophthalmologist at the hospital the didn't think it was relevant.

My DH had this and has done since birth. It's only a problem if he gets hit on the head because it can be a sign of concussion but in his case it's a permanent thing. David Bowie's pupil won't contract because of an old eye injury so that's a bit different. Get it checked out but don't worry about it.

Do get it checked.

But I have this often first thing in the morning. It's very obvious when I do have it. I only noticed it as an adult, but I may have had it longer. What is particularly strange is in the bathroom mirror, the light (window) comes from one side and that is the pupil that opens wider, which seems strange-surely it should be the other way round?

The GP wasn't worried about it when I asked him.

My DD has this.

I did wonder if it was a worry so I took haer for a full eye exam and everything was fine, the optician said make sure it is on her medical records so they know.

I'm another one whose DD has this (I noticed at about the same age your DC is, OP). After I noticed it on DD, I then realised DP (her dad) has exactly the same. Judging by the responses to your OP, this must be quite common. GP was totally unconcerned.

Generally, I think it's because when you stand in a room there is a source of light in one direction. So the pupil nearest the light source shrinks further than the pupil furthest from the light source, so that they both take in the same amount of light.

Rang GP's today and have got app not tomorrow. Did speak with someone over the phone who didn't seem too alarmed as no other symptoms. Interesting to read everyone's experiences and has helped to reassure me.

Just to update- saw GP last week re DD2's eyes and he didn't know the reason for this. He said he would have to look into it and would refer us to someone though he wasn't sure who. So still none the wiser at the minute.

Took some red eye pics with flash of dd's eyes today. On some of these pics the more dilated pupil shows a white spot at one side. Am now more worried as know this can be a sign of something serious. Was wondering if any of you who replied with having experience of larger pupil had also had same result with red eye pics. Will call GP's again tomorrow to chase up referral.

Most white reflections are to do with camera angles. I know it sometimes indicates retinoblastoma (cancer) but it is incredibly rare - only 40 children each year in the UK are diagnosed. Even if it was cancer, 98% of children with retinoblastoma are treated successfully.

Try not to worry. If the doctor thought your DD had anything serious, she'd be at the hospital right now. I know a child who went to the GP on Christmas Eve and had an MRI the same day.

Hello. I’m experiencing exactly this with my 5 week old DD atm. I know this is an old thread but wondering how it all turned out for you?

Not sure about the OP but since I posted on this thread in 2013, one of my children was born with one pupil bigger than the other, the same as my DH. He's 8 now and you only see it in certain lights and it's purely a cosmetic effect. Definitely get it checked out but it won't necessarily be anything serious.

Both my boys and I have this! Much more noticeable in dim light. Perfectly normal in our cases

Wow thank you both this is very reassuring. My DD saw the gp today who felt sure there was nothing to worry about after a few different checks. She has been referred to opthalmology as a check but non-urgently and is completely well within herself. It’s strange so many people seem to have this but yet it’s not really heard of.

@lolaVie It’a called physiological anisocoria and up to 20% people are born with it apparently :)

For DD it seemed to just start out of nowhere. She’s 5 weeks rather than it happening from birth. GP didn’t seem concerned though about this.