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Dilated Pupils: What Is It, Causes, & Treatments

Dilated Pupils

Dilated pupils are a natural and common reaction to many situations and will usually go away on their own. However, when they’re sudden, are seemingly triggered for no reason, or don’t go away on their own, there can be an underlying cause for them that could require medical attention. 

Let’s discuss what dilated pupils are, what they can be caused by when you should worry about them, and what treatment options are available. 

What Are Dilated Pupils?

Pupils are the part of your eye that lets light into your eyes to help you see clearly. They’re controlled by the muscles in your iris, which is the colored part of your eye. The normal pupil size for an adult varies from 2 mm to 8 mm, depending on the amount of light exposure. 

Dilated pupils occur when your pupils widen. There are natural causes that can cause this, but the effects will always be temporary. If your dilated pupils linger, you should get your eyes checked to find out the underlying reason. 

Natural Responses Leading to Dilated Pupils

Pupils are constantly changing in size in response to the amount of light they’re taking in. 

They normally dilate in low-light conditions to let more light into the eye. They will also constrict in conditions with higher levels of light to minimize the amount of light that enters the eye. 

Causes of Dilated Pupils

There are also unnatural causes that could cause your pupils to dilate. In these cases, consulting with a professional is recommended. 

Medications and Drugs

A variety of medications cause dilated pupils by interfering with the muscle function in the iris that controls the pupil’s size. 

Some of these medications include: 

  • Antihistamines, like Benadryl
  • Muscle relaxants, like Lioresal
  • Decongestants, like Sudafed
  • Parkinson’s medications, like Symmetrel
  • Antidepressants, like Norpramin
  • Illicit drugs like LSD or cocaine

When checked by a healthcare professional, they can determine if the cause of your dilated pupils is a medication you’re taking. 

Eye Injuries

Trauma to the brain or eye can cause dilated pupils. Typically, blunt closed trauma damages the iris sphincter muscle, or one of the pathways in the brain that controls it. These injuries can also cause bleeding inside the skull, which can make your pupils enlarge. 

Eye injuries can also be caused by: 

  • Retinal procedures, like retinal detachment surgery, diabetic retinopathy surgery, and macular hole surgery
  • Intraocular surgery, like cataract removal or a corneal transplant

Medical Conditions

Dilated pupils can also be caused by several medical conditions, such as:

  • Aneurysm in the brain
  • Brain tumor or abscess
  • Excess pressure in one eye caused by glaucoma
  • Acute stroke
  • Intracranial hemorrhage
  • Brain swelling
  • Infection of membranes around the brain
  • Increased intracranial pressure
  • Intracranial tumor
  • Migraine headache
  • Seizure
  • Tomor, moss, or lymph node in the upper chest or lymph node
  • Diabetic oculomotor nerve palsy
  • Horner syndrome
  • Benign episodic unilateral mydriasis
  • Adie’s pupil
  • Congenital aniridia

When to Worry About Dilated Pupils

If you have an unexplained change in pupil size and it’s not going away, reach out to your healthcare provider. This is particularly true if they started suddenly, are recent, or happened after an injury to your head or eye. 

If you have these symptoms along with dilated pupils, get medical treatment immediately:

  • Eye sensitivity to light
  • Blurred vision
  • Double vision
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Loss of vision
  • Eye pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stiff neck

Treatments for Dilated Pupils

In most cases, dilated pupils are a natural response that will go away on their own. However, if they continue to linger, a healthcare professional may recommend further treatment. The treatment can vary depending on the underlying cause of your dilated pupils. 

Sunglasses

Sunglasses, particularly sunglasses with polarized lenses, can help alleviate discomfort and sensitivity to light caused by dilated pupils.  They’ll reduce the amount of light entering your eyes, providing relief in environments where bright lights exacerbate your sensitivity to light. 

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation can be used as a treatment if the abuse of substances is the underlying cause of your dilated pupils.

Treatment programs for substance abuse typically involve: 

  • Medication
  • Counseling
  • Therapy
  • Support groups

These programs are utilized to reduce your dependence on the substances that are causing your pupil dilation. 

Contact Lenses

Prosthetic contact lenses are specialized lenses that are used to manage eye conditions that cause issues in the appearance of your eyes. For dilated pupils, they are used to cosmetically address pupil size unevenness or irregularities. These lenses are custom-made to match the appearance of your natural eyes and help improve the symmetry and aesthetics of your eyes when there are visible discrepancies in your pupils. 

Surgery

Though uncommon, surgery can be used as a treatment for dilated pupils when the underlying cause requires surgical intervention. 

These circumstances could include: 

  • Eye Trauma: Severe eye injuries that affect the muscles controlling your pupils’ size and response may require surgical intervention to restore your normal pupil function. 
  • Nerve Damage: Conditions like a third nerve palsy, where the nerve controlling the pupil’s movement is affected, may require surgical repair to address the underlying cause or to correct the muscle or nerve function. 
  • Certain Eye Disorders: In rare cases, specific eye disorders that cause abnormal pupil dilatation could require surgical management or treatment to address the issue. 

Act Now on Pupil Changes for Optimal Eye Health

If you have dilated pupils that have no explanation, don’t hesitate to reach out to our reliable team at Specialty Eye Institute. We offer comprehensive eye care that can find out the underlying cause, as well as the best way to treat them. 

We are committed to offering exceptional service and treatment every time you come in.  At Specialty Eye Institute, we pride ourselves on following our four core values:

  • Patient-Centered Advocate
  • Excellence
  • Integrity
  • Compassion

Call Us Today or schedule an appointment on our website.

Optic Nerve Damage: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

Optic Nerve Damage

Optic nerve damage can cause irreversible vision loss. Whether partial or total, vision loss hinders our ability to complete daily tasks with ease. If you want to protect your vision, we strongly recommend scheduling an annual eye exam. Your eye doctor will check for signs of damage, among other conditions, to determine any necessary treatment plans.

Keep reading to learn about what causes optic nerve damage, what symptoms to look for, and how to treat it.

What Is an Optic Nerve?

The optic nerve is a tube-like structure of about one million nerve fibers connecting the back of your eyeball to your brain. It can be stimulated by light and is responsible for transmitting images and light from the retina to the brain. As part of the body’s central nervous system, the optic nerve is essential for collecting and processing visual information.

Read More: Eye Anatomy: The 9 Main Parts of The Eye & How We See

What Causes Optic Nerve Damage?

When it comes to what causes optic nerve damage, there are two main categories: eye diseases, disorders and conditions, and eye injury or trauma.

Optic Nerve Eye Diseases, Disorders, & Conditions

Glaucoma

 Glaucoma can result in high intraocular pressure, blocked blood flow to the eye, or a buildup of fluid in the eye.

Optic neuritis

This is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes optic nerve inflammation.

Optic nerve atrophy

This condition causes the optic nerve to shrink and lose its ability to transmit signals from the eye to the brain.

Optic nerve head drusen

A deposit of cholesterol and protein forms in the eye’s optic disc, where the optic nerve connects to the eye. This deposit can restrict blood flow to the optic nerve, causing blurred vision or vision loss.

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

The blood flow to the optic nerve is cut off completely, which can cause anything from swelling to inflammation to fluid buildup.

Optic nerve compression

Excess pressure is put on the optic nerve, which can cause blindness.

Eye infection

Bacterial and viral eye infections—such as Lyme disease, measles, and chickenpox—can spread to the optic nerve and cause irreversible damage. These infections can also cause inflammation and swelling that restricts blood flow to the optic nerve.

Eye cancer

Tumor cells release a chemical that kills cells in the optic nerve. Tumors can also press on the optic nerve, causing inflammation and swelling, or block the flow of blood to the optic nerve.

Optic Nerve Injury or Trauma

  • Stroke: A stroke can interrupt the optic nerve’s blood supply and block the flow of oxygen and nutrients to it.
  • Cerebral aneurysm: An aneurysm can leak or rupture unexpectedly, causing bleeding and swelling in the brain. Increased pressure due to the bleeding and swelling can damage blood vessels, including those supplying blood to the optic nerves.
  • Blood clot: Blood clots block proper blood flow from the optic nerve to the brain.
  • Diabetes: High glucose levels in the retina can damage the optic nerve.
  • Graves’ Disease: An overactive thyroid gland characteristic of Graves’ disease can cause the optic nerve to swell.
  • Medications: Medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, and arthritis, can damage the optic nerve.

What Are The Signs of Optic Nerve Damage?

Not all cases of optic nerve damage produce obvious symptoms. That’s why we recommend scheduling an annual eye exam so your eye doctor can detect any underlying signs of damage before they become more serious.

There are both eye-related and non-eye-related symptoms of optic nerve damage. The eye-related symptoms include:

  • Partial or total vision loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Double vision
  • Vision distortion
  • Redness
  • Inflammation
  • Eye pain
  • Eye bulging
  • Enlarged pupil
  • Weakened color vision
  • Inability to focus
  • Spontaneous eye movement

The non-eye-related symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Joint pain
  • Memory loss
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Numbness 
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Unexplained weight loss

Optic Nerve Damage Treatments

While treatments can relieve symptoms and prevent further vision loss, they can’t restore vision that has already been lost. Always consult your eye doctor before moving forward with any treatments.

Common treatments for optic nerve damage include:

  • Eye drops
  • Steroids
  • Oral medicine
  • Laser therapy

Alternative methods to improve symptoms caused and prevent additional vision loss include:

  • Eating healthy
  • Exercising regularly
  • Wearing corrective lenses

Optic Nerve Damage Treatment

Specialty Eye Institute Is An Industry Leader in Compassionate Eye Care 

Whether you suffer from optic nerve damage or have glaucoma, Specialty Eye Institute is equipped with the eye care solutions you need to achieve better vision. Our expert ophthalmologists and doctors use the most advanced technology and techniques to develop innovative treatment options for every vision-related problem. That’s how we’ve led the charge in eye care excellence for over 40 years.

Start by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam. This will provide an accurate picture of your vision needs and help us create the most effective treatment plan. We look forward to meeting with you.

How to Relieve Itchy Eyes from Allergies

5 Tips on How to Relieve Itching Eyes from Allergies

How to Stop Itchy Eyes from Allergies

If you’re suffering from eye allergies, you’re not alone. An estimated 1 in 5 Americans deals with the annoyance of eye allergies, or ocular allergies also known as allergic conjunctivitis. While the symptoms caused by eye allergies can be bothersome, they rarely present a permanent threat to eyesight. You can almost always find how to relieve itchy eyes quickly when you take the right steps.

However, it’s important to note that itching, redness, burning sensations and puffiness can also be signs of infection. In cases of infection, see your doctor if the symptoms don’t improve with time or with treatment such as over-the-counter remedies.

If you think you may have eye allergies, here are some helpful tips on how to get relief from your red, itchy, and watery eyes.

Learn More About Dry Eye Treatment Options At Specialty Eye Institute

Allergies Cause Itchy Eyes

1.) Avoiding Allergens

Keep an eye on pollen count forecasts. If the count is going to be high, consider staying indoors. A remedy to relieve itching eyes is to replace the filters in your air conditioner and/or furnace. This will help trap allergens while creating a more comfortable environment.

2.) Resist the Temptation to Rub Itchy Eyes!

While rubbing itchy eyes may feel natural, the contact with the eyes will release more histamine and aggravate the symptoms. In other words, rubbing itchy eyes may make the problem worse. You can relieve itchy eyes by using a cold-water compress placed over your closed eyes. This will help relieve the itchy sensation while also preventing you from rubbing your eyes. A cold-water compress isn't only an easy solution, but it's also the first natural remedy for itchy eyes you should try.

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3.) Remove Your Contacts

Did you know that the surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens? If you are looking for ways to find relief for itchy or irritated eyes, you may want to consider wearing glasses during the allergy season. Also, consider switching to disposable lenses. This way, your contacts aren’t accumulating allergens for days.

Eyedrops For Itchy Eye Relief

Tips & Insights: 6 Tips For Maintaining Good Eyesight

4.) Over-the-Counter Eye Drops

Your local pharmacy has many types of over-the-counter saline eye drops and remedies that may provide relief for your red, watery, and itchy eyes. This approach isn’t only convenient, but also budget-friendly. Your doctor can help you find the best saline eye drop brand for your symptoms.

5.) Prescription Medications

If eye drops are not providing itchy eye relief for moderate to severe, symptoms, it may be a good time to talk to your doctor about what prescription options are available. If your itchy eyes are from allergies, prescription antihistamines may help relieve your symptoms.

Tips & Insights: What Are The Differences Between Dry & Wet Macular Degeneration?

Ophthalmologist

How Long Do Itchy Eyes Last?

If your itchy eyes are from allergies, your symptoms can last through the pollen season. That can be anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.

Eye Care Solutions

If you need assistance with a vision or eye problem, give our staff of ophthalmologists a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 to book an appointment. We offer eye care solutions to clients such as LASIK eye surgery, glaucoma treatments, cataract surgery, macular degeneration treatments, and presbyopia surgery. Our staff is committed to offering new and innovative treatments to patients.

Schedule An Appointment With Our Team Of Ophthalmologists & Doctors

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Filed Under: Blog

The Causes of Flashing Lights in The Corner of Your Eye

Flashing Lights in Eye

Has this ever happened to you? You’re going about your day—running errands, grocery shopping, taking care of yard work—when you suddenly see flashing lights in your eye that take you by surprise. You know it wasn’t a camera flash or a strike of lightning, but you’re not sure how to explain the phenomenon. To your luck, there’s a medical explanation for seeing flashing lights in the corner of your eyes.

Let’s explore the vision-related causes of these flashing lights and floaters in the eye along with when you need to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor.

What Are Those Flashing Lights and Floaters I Can See In My Eye?

Both seeing floaters and flashing lights in the corner of your eye are a result of shrinking vitreous. The vitreous is fluid in the back of the eye that protects the retina and helps the eye maintain its shape.

As your eyes’ vitreous supply naturally diminishes as they age, floaters drift in front of the retina—effectively blocking your field of vision. Dust-like floaters appear differently for everyone, and anyone can experience them as they age. People in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are most likely to experience floaters in their vision. However, other factors such as diabetes, nearsightedness, and past eye swelling issues can increase your risk of developing the eye condition.

Both flashing lights and floaters affect the retina. The retina’s job is to process light that enters your eye and then send that information to your brain. The vitreous is attached to the retina by small fibers. The friction that occurs on these fibers can lead to flashing lights in the eye.

Vision-Related Causes of Flashing Lights in the Eye

This friction in the eye can be caused by a few different factors, and not all are vision-related. Health conditions such as migraines and diabetes along with medications can create flashing lights in the eyes.

Four main vision-related conditions cause flashing lights to appear. Take a look at what those conditions are, what causes them, and what their effects are:

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Posterior vitreous detachment is one of the more common vision-related causes of flashing lights and floaters in the eye. As you age, the vitreous can detach. If this detachment occurs suddenly, the resulting friction can cause floaters and flashing lights to appear in the corner of your eye. This condition occurs naturally in people over the age of 40. While it cannot be prevented, it can be treated. Learn more about Posterior Vitreous Detachment. Learn more about the Symptoms and Causes of Vitreous Detachment.

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis is a disorder of the optic nerve that causes swelling and inflammation. The swelling and inflammation can cause flashing lights in the eye and even lead to vision loss or blindness. Other common symptoms include eye redness, blurred vision, double vision, and headaches.

Retina Pressure

Excess pressure on the retina can result in flashing lights appearing in one or both of your eyes. The pressure can be caused by rubbing your eyes, coughing too hard, or getting bumped or hit on the head. Additional symptoms include dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and sore or burning eyes.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is a condition in which the retina detaches from the underlying tissue in the back of the eye. When this detachment occurs, flashing lights may begin to appear in the eye. Other symptoms include scarring and swelling of the eye. Retinal detachment can be caused by injury due to trauma or inflammation, aging, and underlying eye disease. Since retinal detachment can lead to partial or total vision loss, it should be treated immediately.

Learn More About Eye Anatomy & The Different Parts of The Eye

Doctor Performing Eye Exam

When You Need To See an Eye Doctor for Flashing Lights in the Eye

While eye floaters are not hereditary, retinal tears and detachment can be. Since both eye floaters and flashing lights in the corner of your eyes result from retinal detachment, consult your eye doctor if you begin experiencing either phenomenon.

You should also see an eye doctor if you experience:

  • Blurry vision
  • Darkening vision
  • Vision loss
  • Dizziness
  • An eye injury
  • An increase in seeing flashing lights
  • An increase in seeing floaters
  • Frequent ocular migraines
  • Vision changes

Schedule an appointment today with an expert ophthalmologist to get an accurate diagnosis regarding the cause of flashing lights and floaters and to receive a customized treatment plan.

Receive Treatment From the Eye Experts at Specialty Eye Institute

When it’s time to visit an eye doctor to discuss the floaters and flashing lights in your vision, go to the experts at Specialty Eye Institute. Our team of ophthalmologists and eye doctors will accurately diagnose your condition and provide a treatment plan designed for your unique vision needs.

We offer treatments for retinal detachments that can be performed in-office—such as laser retinal detachment surgery and retinal cryopexy. We use the most advanced equipment and techniques to perform these procedures, which enables us to produce optimal vision results for our patients.

Find a Specialty Eye Institute doctor at one of our convenient locations in Michigan or Ohio to receive the professional eye care you deserve. Schedule your appointment online or by calling (866) 435-8935 today.

Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference?

Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist

Understanding the roles of different professionals is crucial for ensuring the best possible treatment and care for your eyes. While both optometrists and ophthalmologists play integral roles in maintaining eye health, their training, qualifications, and the services they provide differ significantly. Whether it’s routine check-ups, managing eye diseases, or undergoing eye surgery, knowing the difference between an optometrist vs an ophthalmologist is essential for making informed decisions about your eye health.

What is an Optometrist?

An optometrist is an eye care professional who takes care of the primary care of your eyes. They examine, diagnose, and treat eye diseases and disorders. 

Education and Qualifications

Optometrists require an extensive amount of education to be in their positions. They need to graduate college and follow it up with four years of optometry school which allows them to receive a doctor of optometry degree. 

Optometry school includes both coursework and clinical rotations. During their training, the students learn how to perform eye exams, as well as diagnose and treat ocular conditions. After their doctorate, optometrists can choose to start practicing right away or continue their education with a fellowship or residency. 

Services Provided by Optometrists

Optometrists work in primary care for their patients’ eyes. 

Some of their duties include: 

  • Performing vision tests and eye exams
  • Detecting certain eye abnormalities
  • Diagnosing, managing, and treating specific eye diseases
  • Prescribing and fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses
  • Evaluating and monitoring secondary eye conditions associated with certain diseases

What services an optometrist can provide varies based on state laws. Each state has a scope of practice for optometrists, which decides what medications they’re permitted to prescribe and what procedures they’re allowed to perform. 

When To See an Optometrist

You should see an optometrist for annual eye exams, as well as if you are experiencing any abnormalities in your eyes or vision. They can diagnose, treat, and manage most eye-related conditions. If the issue involves more testing or surgery, you will be referred to a specialist. 

What is an Ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor who has advanced training with either a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. They can diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye conditions and can specialize in specific areas of eye health. 

Education and Qualifications

Ophthalmologists require even more thorough education and training than optometrists. They have to complete pre-medical school prerequisites during college and then take four years of medical school with a rotation in ophthalmology. 

Once they graduate medical school, they will need to participate in a residency program for three to four years in their specialized area of ophthalmology. Subspecialties can require an additional one to two years of fellowship training after residency. 

All ophthalmologists have to be licensed by the state where they work in order to practice medicine. 

Services Provided by Ophthalmologists

Services provided by optometrists and ophthalmologists have some overlap, but ophthalmologists are permitted to offer more advanced services and treatments.  

  • Prescribing corrective lenses
  • Performing routine medical eye exams
  • Diagnosing, treating, and managing ocular conditions with both surgery and medicine
  • Performing intraocular injections for macular degeneration, diabetes, and other vascular diseases
  • Performing surgeries such as LASIK, glaucoma surgery, cataract surgery, and retinal detachment repair
  • Pre- and post-surgical management

Specializations and Subspecialties

Ophthalmologists can specialize in a variety of areas, including:  

General Ophthalmology

General ophthalmologists perform comprehensive eye examinations and surgical evaluations. They provide a broad spectrum of eye care, from prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses to diagnosing and treating complex eye diseases. 

Pediatric Ophthalmology

A pediatric ophthalmologist specializes in children’s eye care. They can diagnose, treat, and manage all children’s eye problems. They provide comprehensive eye exams designed for children of different ages to ensure that their vision is where it should be. 

Oculoplastics

Oculoplastics is an area that ophthalmologists can specialize in that involves plastic and reconstructive surgery around the eyelids, eyebrows, forehead, cheeks, orbit, and lacrimal system. 

Neuro-Ophthalmology

Neuroophthalmologists specialize in visual problems that are related to the nervous system. These problems could be a result of an injury to the brain or optic nerves, or from a disease or condition that affects the brain or optic nerves. 

Retina Specialists

A retina specialist is an ophthalmologist who subspecializes in disease and surgery related to the vitreous and retina in both adults and children. They can perform eye surgery, treat eye cancer and other diseases, and care for people with severe injuries. 

Refractive Surgery

Refractive surgery is an area that ophthalmologists can specialize in that involves correcting refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia through surgery. This type of surgery involves implanting an intraocular lens into the eye in addition to or instead of the natural lens. 

When To See an Ophthalmologist

You would generally schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist when you have an eye problem that requires a specialist. In most cases, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist if it’s necessary. 

This may happen if your condition: 

  • Needs further testing
  • Is more advanced
  • Requires specialized treatment
  • Requires surgery

Ophthalmologist performing an exam

Key Differences Between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists

While optometrists and ophthalmologists work in the same field, there are some very important differences between them. 

Optometrists

  • Doctor of Optometry degree
  • Around eight years of training
  • Can diagnose and treat most common eye problems
  • Seen for routine eye care and vision correction

Ophthalmologist

  • Doctor of Medicine degree
  • Around 12 years of training
  • Can diagnose and treat more severe and advanced eye problems
  • Usually seen for eye surgeries and specialty care

The Role of Opticians in Eye Care

An optician is a technician who fills prescriptions for eyewear and fits patients with the corrective lenses that they need for their specific vision issues. 

Opticians provide the following services: 

  • Filling prescriptions from the eye doctor
  • Adjusting and repairing eyewear frames
  • Fitting corrective lenses by taking measurements

Opticians need to become certified with one to two years of training. This can be from a certification program, an associate’s degree, or an apprenticeship with an eye doctor. 

Which Eye Care Professional Should You See?

Which eye care professional you should see depends heavily on your needs. If you’re looking for primary care for your eyes, you will want to start with an optometrist, who will refer you to an ophthalmologist if it’s necessary. 

If you need surgery for glaucoma, cataracts, or other eye diseases, an ophthalmologist who specializes in the area will be the best choice. 

Schedule Your Eye Check-Up Today!

Don’t skip out on your annual eye exam. They’re essential to keeping your eyes and vision in peak condition, as well as detecting any issues early so that they can be treated immediately. 

We are committed to providing excellent service and treatment every time you visit.  At Specialty Eye Institute, our core values include: 

  • Excellence
  • Patient-Centered Advocate
  • Compassion
  • Integrity

Call Us Today or schedule an appointment on our website.

Filed Under: Blog

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