Is having one eye dilated serious?

Question

My husband just noticed one eye only is dilated. He has NO other symptoms other than a little bluriness. Is this an emergency or can it wait a day?

Answer 1

The MOST common cause of unilateral dilated pupil is medication of some type. Do you have a boat? Did he use a scopolamine patch for nausea or some other patch? Or some chemical on his hands at home or at work that could paralyze the pupillary sphincter?

There are a number of 'Pupils',.. Adies, Horner's, etc. some which lead to dilation others to miosis (smaller pupil), some from infectious sources.

Most likely if he doesn't have anything else 'wrong', it's none of the above.

Answer 2

I found this very ambiguous statement - maybe call the emergency room and see what they say?

Dilated pupils is also known as (mydriasis). Bilateral mydriasis has many reasons, most common being taking certain drugs. If the dilatation is in one eye, its called anisocoria. Anisocornea is frequent and can be physiological, benign or life threatening.

I would suggest seeing an ophthalmologist to do proper examination. Here are some of the causes: Peripheral or central neurological causes, glaucoma, retinal disease, also it may be physiologic in normal people.

Answer 3

YES! He needs to see a doctor ASAP - there's no waiting, especially if there's bluriness.

It could be anything, but it also is a HUGE sign of a stroke or seizure.

Answer 4

Get medical help immediately!!!  This is one of the standard examination items that medics use to assess whether or not there may have been brain injury.  You must get this checked out immediately to rule out SEVERE difficulty!