Hypertension medications — Some high blood pressure medications, such as tetrahydrozoline, can cause small pupils. Horner syndrome — A rare condition caused by a tumor, stroke or damaged brainstem, Horner syndrome can affect the nervous system and be a sign of life-threatening complications in the neck or upper body. Source: Medical News Today. Want the latest and greatest from our blog straight to your inbox? Subscribe today for a periodic email with our latest posts.
That allows more light in, which improves night vision. Pupil constriction and dilation are involuntary reflexes. Other than lighting, pupils can change size in reaction to other stimuli. Some drugs can cause your pupils to get bigger, while others make them get smaller. In adults, pupils normally measure between 2 and 4 millimeters in bright light. In the dark, they usually measure between 4 and 8 millimeters.
One of the most likely reasons someone might have pinpoint pupils is the use of narcotic pain medications and other drugs in the opioid family, such as:. Pinpoint pupils are a symptom, not a disease. Symptoms will depend on how much of the drug you take and how often you take it.
In the longer term, opioid use can reduce lung function. Signs that you might be addicted to opioids include:. Intracerebral hemorrhage may cause severe headache, nausea, and vomiting, and may be followed by loss of consciousness.
If your pinpoint pupils are due to Horner syndrome, you might also have a drooping eyelid and decreased sweating on one side of your face. Babies with Horner syndrome might have one iris that is lighter in color than the other.
Additional symptoms of anterior uveitis include redness, inflammation, blurred vision, and light sensitivity. However, it can be a symptom of one. The diagnosis will guide your treatment options. In the event of an opioid overdose, emergency personnel can use a drug called naloxone to reverse the life-threatening effects of opioids. In some cases, intracerebral hemorrhage may require surgical intervention.
Treatment will also include measures to keep your blood pressure under control. It may get better if the cause can be determined and treated. Corticosteroids and other topical ointments are typical treatments for anterior uveitis. Additional steps may be necessary if the cause is determined to be an underlying disease.
People using heroin are at risk of contracting blood infections by sharing needles. Injecting heroin can also damage the veins and arteries and may cause gangrene. A person with a heroin dependency should speak to their family doctor or a local drug treatment center. A healthcare professional will ask about their drug use, family and housing situation, and any other contributing factors the person may wish to disclose.
The doctor may request a urine or saliva sample. Horner syndrome is a rare condition caused by a tumor , a stroke , or damage to the central trunk of the brain brainstem. It affects a type of nerve called the sympathetic nerve. Symptoms include:.
Horner syndrome can be a sign of life-threatening complications in the neck or upper body, so it is essential to seek medical attention. Anterior uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, including the iris.
While many people who have anterior uveitis are otherwise healthy, it can be associated with:. It occurs mostly in young or middle-aged people and can appear in one or both eyes.
A doctor or eye specialist ophthalmologist may refer a person for further testing if they suspect an underlying medical condition to be the cause. A study assessed the importance of how the pupils react to light when there are possible injuries to the central nervous system. For people who have sustained head injuries in road-traffic or other accidents, pinpoint pupils can be a sign of serious internal problems.
Head injuries can cause severe and even life-threatening complications, even if the effects are not immediately apparent.
Anyone who has suffered a head injury should seek immediate medical attention. Research suggests that accidental exposure to pesticides organophosphates can cause pinpoint pupils in some cases. The person may also show signs of:. Anyone who thinks they or someone else has been poisoned by a pesticide, household cleaner, or other toxic product requires immediate medical attention.
If a person is unconscious or vomiting, it is important to roll them onto their side if possible and keep their head tilted slightly downward.
This position will ensure any vomit can escape without the person choking on it. Pinpoint pupils are not a disease on their own, but they can indicate an underlying medical problem.
Anyone experiencing pinpoint pupils with no apparent cause should see a doctor as soon as possible. Many of the causes of pinpoint pupils are serious medical conditions, such as opioid dependency or pesticide poisoning.
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