

Which specialist consultations are beneficial to patients with anisocoria?Ĭompressive third nerve palsies and aneurysms may require neurosurgical intervention, whereas ophthalmologists may be helpful in other causes of anisocoria. Mechanical anisocoria is an acquired defect that results from damage to the iris or its supporting structures. Examples include aniridia, coloboma, and ectopic pupil. What is mechanical anisocoria with example?Ĭongenital anomalies in the structure of the iris may contribute to abnormal pupillary sizes and shapes that present in childhood. Generally, anisocoria is caused by impaired dilation (a sympathetic response) or impaired constriction (a parasympathetic response) of pupils. Thus, thorough clinical evaluation is important for the appropriate diagnosis and management of the underlying cause. Why is thorough clinical evaluation important for the diagnosis of anisocoria? It is a benign condition with a difference in pupil size of less than or equal to 1 mm. Physiologic (also known as simple or essential) anisocoria is the most common cause of unequal pupil sizes, affecting up to 20% of the population. In January 1962, the future star – then known as plain ol’ David Jones – was at school in Bromley when he got into a ruck with his friend, George Underwood. The fight resulted in Bowie suffering a Heterochromia, a condition which resulted in the right eye turning blue in appearance while a left one remained a darker shade of brown, apparently due to suffering “a deep corneal abrasion and paralysis of his iris sphincter muscle.” Why did David Bowie have a dilated pupil?īowie’s dilated pupil was the result of a traumatic event in his childhood – and it was all over a fight over a girl. Why did David Bowie have different colored eyes? Potential etiologies of anisocoria include systemic drug use, topical ophthalmic drug use, headaches, trauma, ophthalmologic diseases, and autonomic ganglion pathology.Ĭan anxiety cause pupils different sizes?īecause elevated stress can adversely affect the nervous system and how the sensory organs function, stress, including anxiety-caused stress, and a lack of sleep can affect the size of the pupils in the eyes. The etiology of anisocoria is complex, ranging from benign to potentially life-threatening causes. What is the most common cause of anisocoria? In these cases, there are no other symptoms and both of the person’s pupils react to changes in light. This is called “physiologic anisocoria” and is normal. What causes uneven pupils? Slight differences between the two pupils may be present in up to 20 percent of people. The two of them had been friends since they were nine and remained close over the years. As a youth, Bowie had a good friend named George Underwood. What is anisocoria and what does it indicate for the patient?Īctually, David Bowie’s anisocoria was caused by a simple fight over a girl. It is generally considered to be benign, though it must be distinguished from Congenital Horner’s syndrome, pharmacological dilatation or other conditions connected to the sympathetic nervous system.

Physiological anisocoria is when human pupils differ in size. An injury or lesion in either pathway may result in changes in pupil size. What is mechanical anisocoria with example?.Why is thorough clinical evaluation important for the diagnosis of anisocoria?.Why did David Bowie have a dilated pupil?.Why did David Bowie have different colored eyes?.What is the most common cause of anisocoria?.


