condition that suggest unequal pupil size

Nerves that regulate heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, intestinal activity, sphincter activity and other involuntary activities are called autonomic nerves. Diabetes and Eyes – Autonomic Neuropathy and Diabetic Ophthalmoplegiaĭiabetes is known to cause a condition called autonomic neuropathy. Reduced pupillary size, due to its close relation to blood vessel damage and retinal damage, is considered as one of the diabetic retinopathy symptoms for people with long term diabetes. Microvascular damage is the origin of all damage to the eyes and it also leads to the reduction of size of the pupils.Ĭhildren with type 1 diabetes have a reduced pupillary diameter. When blood vessels of eyes are damaged, they lead to damage of sympathetic nerves of eyes and hence damage the pupils. The reason for this is attributed to diabetes-related damage to blood vessels. They respond to light and yet their size is reduced. In people with diabetes, reflexes of the pupil remain normal. Poor diabetes control, high blood sugar levels, long duration of diabetes, and high blood pressure are responsible for numerous complications like microvascular diseases, and microaneurysms. Smaller Pupils in People with Diabetes – Why it matters This is more common among children with type 1 diabetes. The possibility of pupillary miosis increases with tenure of diabetes. Though this is mostly seen in people with type 1 diabetes, it is also present in people with type 2 diabetes. This decrease in the size of the pupil is called pupillary miosis. Hence, this causes decreased vision in the dark. Due to diabetes it can no longer dilate and remains small. The action of pupils is to get narrower in places where there is light and get wider where it is dark. This is first seen in the inability to adjust vision in darker places. When coupled with high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes, high blood sugar levels can cause huge damage to the pupils. Diabetes and Eyes – Smaller Pupil Sizesĭiabetes can cause specific damage to the pupils and leads to smaller pupil sizes when compared to normal individuals. Pupils are prone to abnormalities that can arise due to conditions like third nerve palsy, thyroid eye disease, pseudo tumors, giant cell arteritis, and many other conditions. Drugs and medications like opioids and amphetamines dilate the pupils and diseases like miosis and diabetes lead to contraction or reduction of pupil size. Diseases of pupilsĭue to certain diseases and narcotic substances, pupils dilate. They get narrower in light and wider in dark. Pupils are round in shape and are made of smooth muscles. They appear black and allow light to be absorbed into the retina. The pupils of eyes are holes present in the center of the iris.

Diabetes and Eyes – Diseases of Pupils What are pupils? Ocular neovascularization is the leading cause of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema. These new blood vessels can leak protein and edema into the surrounding areas. This lack of oxygen triggers neovascularization(new and fragile blood vessels).

When blood vessels that transport oxygen and nutrients to eyes are damaged, tissues of all parts of eye undergo hypoxia (a condition that is characterized by lack of oxygen). Diabetes leads to dysfunction of blood vessels (large and small) and capillaries in the eyes. The relation between diabetes and eyes goes deep. Conditions like diabetic cataract, diabetic macular edema, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, can lead to vision loss. It might even lead to permanent vision loss. Chronic conditions like diabetes can lead to serious diabetic eye problems that might not be reversible.

Condition that suggest unequal pupil size