Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Baby has different sized pupils

22 replies

MichelleM · 25/07/2005 16:25

My 11 week old DS2 has different sized pupils - have you come across this before? His right eye's pupil is considerably larger than the left. Do you think I should mention this to the doctor?

OP posts:

Kelly1978 · 25/07/2005 16:27

it can be genetic and run in families, and nothing to worry about. Does anyoen else in your family have it?

Original poster

MichelleM · 25/07/2005 16:29

Not aware of anyone else with this in the family - do you think its just one of those things then, but not anything to worry about? Thanks

OP posts:

Kelly1978 · 25/07/2005 16:33

If she has always had it then yes I would say so. If it has come on recently I think I would get it checked out to rule out other causes and be on the safe side.

Original poster

MichelleM · 26/07/2005 19:00

Went to doctors today and he has been referred to opthalmologist. Anyone else been through this to advise on what it might be?

OP posts:

Jimjams · 26/07/2005 19:16

my friend's ds2 had this- in his case it was apparently related to an intense 2nd stage of labour. it wasn't anything to worry about though.

Original poster

MichelleM · 26/07/2005 19:52

Thats very interesting Jimjams - DS was in foetal distress in 2nd stage and had to be pulled out really quickly by forceps - he later went on to develop pneumonia and was in scbu for 11 days

OP posts:

lovecloud · 26/07/2005 20:22

Hello

My right pupil is noticably larger than the left. I only noticed it went admitted to hospital with sever panic attacks in my teens, I even had a brain scan.

They said it was nothing to worry about, I have also mentioned it to a few docs since and they have all said it is fine. My dh always finds it slightly disturbing when we go out for candle lit meals as in candle light, the right pupil emlages about double the size of the left.

Kelly1978 · 27/07/2005 09:13

hi michelle,
the medical name for it is anisocoria. the opthalmologist will be checking to make sure both eyes dilate properly, then the different sizes sould be nothign to worry about and perfectly normal. Not sure what other optical causes there can be for aniscora, but if u search on google u might find soemthing. HTH.

Kittypickle · 27/07/2005 09:18

My DD (6) has this but it's only obvious when the pupils are dilated. She's been checked out by various optometrists who were happy that it wasn't a problem and that her eyes were functioning correctly. One of them is a friend of mine and I know if she had the slightest worry that all was not fine that she would have referred to an opthalmologist (I met her whilst we were on a research project at an Eye Hospital ) Interesting to read about 2nd stage of labour, that was 3 hours for her and she became distressed.

Original poster

MichelleM · 27/07/2005 17:35

Thank you all for your responses and am hoping now that there is nothing to worry about

OP posts:

meathmom1234 · 01/01/2007 22:28

Hi, Michelle M. I googled "different size pupils babies", and this thread came up. My 6-week-old daughter has different sized pupilsand I'm worried. She's attending the GP tomorrow for her check-up and I'll mention it to him. I'm just wonderhow your son fared out, and how his vision is now? I know it was 18 months ago...

meathmom1234 · 02/01/2007 14:47

I took DD to Gp today, who says it's probably nothing to worry about as she's able to follow movements, and is focusing well. GP is writing a letter to Opthalmologist, and waiting to hear what he'll say, i.e. if he wants consultation. I was reading thorugh these replies, which are interesting, but I know DD's condition was not caused by labour as she was born by elective Caesarean. Anybody else out there who came across this?

BadHair · 02/01/2007 15:27

Yes, ds2 has one pupil very noticeably larger than the other. I noticed it when he was 4 months, took him to the GP, who referred him to consultant.

Consultant checked him initially, was happy that ds2 was able to follow objects and focus correctly for his age, but kept him on the Opthalmology books until ds was actually able to tell him what he could see.

He was discharged from consultant last August, aged 3.10, and his sight is absolutely fine - it's just that one pupil happens to be quite a bit larger than the other. Both dilate and contract normally and he can focus perfectly, it's purely a size difference. No-one else in the family has this, although my side are very short-sighted which made me initially worried.

The only difficult bit was when the consultant put drops in ds2's eyes at the first appointment - they were to dilate the pupils so he could see into the eyes, and ds2 yelled the place down as he really hated them. I had to keep his eyes shielded from the sun for a few hours afterwards, but he was absolutely fine.

Meathmom, I'm sure your dd will be fine - but definitely go to GP for referral to put your mind at rest.

meathmom1234 · 02/01/2007 17:17

Thanks, BadHair, and it's great your DS is fine. I feel better now. It's just that last night, I searched a few websites and some were suggesting causes like intercranial brain tumour, which scared the living daylights out of me! So it was refreshing to spot this website. I'll probably have to wait a few weeks to see the consultant, but at least I won't be fretting! Thanks again

meathmom1234 · 28/02/2007 18:26

I'm glad to say DD2 is now 14 weeks old and the problem seems to have rectified itself! I still haven't been given an appointment date for an opthalmist, but I'll go when it eventually arrives! I found an old photo of DD1 at 2 months old, and I can clearly see hers pupils were inequal too - they're perfect now. I don't know why I didn't spot it at the time on DD1!

tegan · 28/02/2007 18:31

dd2 is 3 in april and I noticed this about her when she was about 2 weeks old, she has been seen by specialists and apparently it is quite common, more so if they are blonde hair and blue eyed like she is.

meathmom1234 · 28/02/2007 18:40

Gosh, I didn't hear that before, tegan! My DD2 is blue-eyed, though more sandy than blonde-haired. Same with DD1. That's why I love Mumsnet - when you have a worry it's great to hears from other mums it's happened and you get so much reassurance!

meathmom1234 · 14/11/2007 20:38

Just thought I'd let you know DD2's eyes are perfect, and there's no doubt in the world she has perfect eyesight - the little goose notices when I leave the room and lets me know it! And she's well able to spot little items on the floor I never see and put them in her mouth!
I decided to add this just in case another worried mother googles " baby different size pupils" and is directed to this thread (like I did - it's how I got to find out about Mumsnet, too), so her mind can be put at ease!!

hickorydickory · 14/11/2007 21:41

I'm so glad you posted! I was looking for info a few months ago about this. My ds was in fact around the same age as your dd when I noticed one of his pupils was unequal. I took him to the GP after a while - thought was just my imagination to start with - who had a good look and said it was just part of his development. Funnily enough, I didn't really notice it after this and it seems to have rectified itself, his vision seems fine but I was so worried.

So glad it wasn't just me, not that I'd wish that worry on anyone of course but just couldn't find anyone else who'd experienced this. Great that all is well with your dd, you must be so relieved

Interesting re the blonde / blue eye theory - as ds has this colouring

meathmom1234 · 14/11/2007 22:08

How old is your ds, hickorydickory? At least you GP had the good sense to reassure you when you pointed this out, not like mine who refers you to a specialist if you have a cut.
If you notice, the thread is over 2 years old, and at the time I posted my reply, I desperately wanted the OP to let me know how her DS is now but she didn't! So that's why I placed my reply.

meathmom1234 · 08/02/2012 21:26

Sorry for bumping, but this thread has come back to haunt me. Yesterday I got a call from the school nurse to tell me my above mentioned daughter failed her eye test! To say i'm shocked is an understatement, as I never suspected anything was wrong with her vision. However, I recall my DH saying during the time we were concerned that he could see when she was turning her head to look at something her right eye took longer to turn towards the object. That's the only concern I can think of, afterwards everything seemed perfect.

But on examination, when we get her to cover her left eye, she has blurred vision on her right eye. She has an appointment to see a paediatric eye specialist next week. I was talking to my SIL today (she is an optician) and she reckons DD2 will need strong glasses.

She probably just has a lazy eye. But I'll keep you posted on what happens.

Manderr · 11/04/2012 18:23

I was born with significantly different sized pupils, and was looking up why when I came across this thread. Just thought I would let you all know that I am now 21 years old, and my pupils have evened out almost completely. I also have 25/20 (above average) vision according to my last visit to the eye Dr. Im sure the results will vary depending on the person, but I was reading on a medical website that if the child is born with different sized pupils, there is really nothing to worry about. Although if it develops later in life then it could be caused by many different things. See this website for more details www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003314.htm

Flip