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Original poster

One pupil suddenly bigger than other - should I panic? Actually I am panicking

19 replies

WhatHo · 02/03/2015 14:38

Ok so I noticed on Fri night that one of my pupils is bigger than the other. This is a new thing - checked photos from last year. I googled and of course the results were terrifying - brain cancer, chest cancer, spinal lesions etc etc

I've managed to get a Doc's appt but for next Tues. Should I call back and demand an earlier one?

Or am I totally overreacting and you can get normal, physiological aniscoria at any time? I am short sighted and one of my eyes is much worse than the other and the lead eye aches sometimes when I wear contacts - could the other eye have got 'lazy'?

Has this happened to anyone else? I wish there was a icon...

OP posts:
PausingFlatly · 02/03/2015 14:42

Call 111. I'm pretty sure that's a "Get checked NOW" thing.

PausingFlatly · 02/03/2015 14:44

Not to say it must be something awful, but you need it checked because it can be.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 02/03/2015 14:47

you could phone your optician right away for your advice.

Sleepytea · 02/03/2015 14:48

Do you have a local eye casualty that you could drop in to? I would get it checked out sooner rather than later just for peace of mind.

SanityClause · 02/03/2015 14:59

Yes, do get checked immediately.

When DD1 was a baby, we noticed she had one pupil larger than the other, and she had various scans etc, to check for any brain damage.

Luckily, in her case, it is just the way she is, but at A&E, they took it very seriously at the time.

momb · 02/03/2015 15:01

Emergency GP appointment today. Don't wait.

flamingtoaster · 02/03/2015 15:03

If you contact your optician he/she can arrange for you to be seen the same day at your local hospital's eye department if you have one and if he thinks it is advisable.

I saw my optician about a sudden new floater, he took a look at it, phoned the hospital immediately and I was seen. Turned out it was OK but the hospital even followed up on it a few weeks later. Eye problems are usually acted on very quickly.

Original poster
WhatHo · 02/03/2015 15:20

Right. Fuck. I'll call the surgery back.

sanity my DD has the same thing - physiological aniscoria.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 02/03/2015 15:20

I would go down to the opticians today for definite.

Does it get bigger/smaller when you shine a light into it?

Original poster
WhatHo · 02/03/2015 16:17

Opticians have fitted me in at last minute. 111 were very worried then when it was obvious I wasn't having - I think - a stroke, they said to go to opticians ASAP, who have kindly fitted me in.

3luckystars it's fine in full sunlight but difference obvious in low light - I think it's not contracting properly.

I am feeling very very jangled. Sad

OP posts:
AntNebula · 02/03/2015 16:26

I have experienced this. I was very scared at the time - jangled was the least of it - but after lots of examinations and a brain scan, I was pronounced completely fine.

The ophthalmologist I saw told me that it was probably congenital and I'd just never noticed before. That definitely wasn't the case though - it really was very noticeable. And in my case, the problem went away after a few months, never to return. This was about ten years ago now. Never found out what caused it.

Good luck at the opticians. Hope you get to the bottom of things quickly.

PausingFlatly · 02/03/2015 16:26

All best of luck for the appointment. Have a calming Brew till then.

LlamaLove · 02/03/2015 20:23

If you have trouble getting in with your Dr call an optician and get a same day appointment.

They can both refer you to the hospital if need be.

MegGriffin · 02/03/2015 20:59

I also had the same thing that came on about 8 years ago. Same as you, in low light one of my pupils does not dilatebut not so obvious in day light. I also has lots of scans etc and was told a virus somehow got in to my eye. I still have. it but does not cwuse me any trouble. I hope you are ok.

gingeroots · 03/03/2015 10:35

I have a good friend with this ,one pupil much larger than the other .Came on suddenly about 7 years ago .It doesn't seem to worry her .

FannyFifer · 03/03/2015 10:38

Go into optician & explain,they will fit you in & can also then refer you to hospital if needed.
Better than GP for checking out anything like this.

Original poster
WhatHo · 03/03/2015 10:41

Hi all,

So went to see optician who checked me out and said eye is responding normally. He called in colleague who double checked and said, "Have you had a cold or flu recently?" I said yes, a bad cold two weeks ago. He said that it was probably related. So I'm really relieved to read what you wrote MegGriffin

AntNebula - The first optician was convinced I'd always had it and not noticed it - I eventually snapped, "I'm a woman, I look at myself the whole time. I would have noticed!"

Anyway to be on the safe side I am going to keep my doc's appt and I'm also taking DD2 to her paediatric ophthalmologist appt on Friday and will ask her about my eye then.

Thanks SO much for responding everyone - Flowers all round.

OP posts:
PausingFlatly · 03/03/2015 11:43

Grin at "I look at myself the whole time".

Glad it seems to be nothing, and also that you'll be getting convenient back-up opinions since you're there anyway.

MegGriffin · 03/03/2015 22:35

Glad it seems to be ok. The initial doctor suggested I had always had it and I looked at him like this Hmm I most definitely would have noticed! I'm glad you are keeping your docs appointment etc.. as you can't be too careful but it sound reassuring.

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