Dilated pupils are larger than usual and allow more light to enter the eye. They can be caused by medical conditions, drugs, or trauma. Dilated pupils are not serious, but can indicate a more serious problem and require an eye exam. Medicinal drops can also be used to dilate pupils during an eye exam.
A person with dilated pupils is easy to recognize because their pupils will appear larger than usual. The pupils are the dark circles located in the center of the eye. A pupil is surrounded by the iris, the colored membrane of the eye. Attached to the iris are the muscles that control the size of the pupil. When these muscles pull on the iris, the pupils dilate.
The primary purpose of the pupils is to pass light through the eye. The pupils dilate and contract, depending on how much light is needed. When light is limited, or there is complete darkness, the eyes naturally dilate in an attempt to allow more light to flow inside. However, if the pupils remain dilated even in bright light, this could be an indication of a condition that may require medical attention.
Medically, when the pupils are dilated when they normally wouldn’t be, the condition is referred to as mydriasis. By itself, dilated pupils are not a serious condition. If the eyes are exposed to light for too long during dilation, however, it can damage a person’s vision.
Also, it is possible that the dilation is a symptom of a more serious medical problem, including life-threatening conditions such as bleeding, brain tumors, aneurysms, or hematomas. Ingesting toxic chemicals or many types of medicines and drugs can also cause pupil dilation. Diagnosing the cause of severely dilated pupils requires an eye exam, as well as a physical and neurological exam.
Head trauma or trauma to the eye can lead to dilated pupils. After an injury, the iris can be affected, causing the pupil to constrict normally. A condition called Adie’s tonic pupil syndrome can also affect the pupils to dilate. This condition, which mostly affects young adult females, causes the pupils to react more slowly than usual to light.
Medications, including antihistamines and antidepressants, can affect pupil dilation. Some drugs, such as psychedelics, including LSD and marijuana, and psychostimulants, such as amphetamines and methamphetamines, can cause dilated pupils. Additionally, narcotic withdrawal can also cause pupil dilation.
Sometimes the eyes are dilated on purpose, usually when an individual goes for an eye exam. During your visit, your doctor will often put medicinal drops called mydriatics into your eyes. The medicine forces the eyes to dilate, allowing the doctor to get a better look at the retina and iris, and also to see how the eyes react to light.
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