There is ongoing research into Adie’s tonic pupil treatment, so patients may want to visit and ask their eye doctor about clinical trials for Adie’s syndrome. For example, your eye doctor may prescribe:Įye drops to reduce glare and light sensitivity Most treatment focuses on management of symptoms. There are few treatments for Adie’s tonic pupil. Much more research is needed to understand COVID-19’s neurological effects, including any possible link with Adie’s tonic pupil. That does not mean that COVID-19 causes Adie’s pupil. The 36-year-old had blurred vision, an enlarged pupil and sensitivity to light. However, COVID-19 may cause neurological symptoms in some patients.Ī March 2021 case study in an eye journal discussed a patient who developed Adie’s pupil after having COVID-19. There is no clear link between Adie’s tonic pupil and COVID-19. This means that inheriting just one copy of a genetic mutation can cause the condition. Hereditary cases of Adie’s syndrome seem to follow an autosomal dominant pattern. In some rare cases, Adie’s syndrome can be genetic. Many cases of tonic pupil are idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause.Īutoimmune issues (the body attacks its own tissues)īacterial or viral infection (inflammation damages the nerves in the eye) The condition occurs due to damage to a bundle of nerve cells behind the eye that controls the pupil. What causes Adie’s pupil?ĭoctors do not know exactly what causes Adie’s tonic pupil. The term Adie’s tonic pupil may be used more often when only the pupil is affected. The term Adie’s syndrome may be used more often when both the pupil and deep tendon reflexes are affected.
Some people may refer to the condition as tonic pupil or Adie’s pupil syndrome. Adie’s syndromeĪdie’s tonic pupil is a condition known by a variety of terms. It’s important to see your eye doctor if you notice a change in the size of a pupil or have any unexpected issues with your vision. These symptoms can also be caused by many other eye and health conditions. Problems with deep tendon reflexes when a doctor taps different parts of the body with a hammer during a neurological exam Symptoms of Adie’s pupil may include:ĭifficulty reading or doing other up-close tasks There are other eye-related and non-eye-related symptoms of Adie’s tonic pupil. The main sign of Adie’s tonic pupil is a pupil that looks larger than the other pupil and does not get much smaller in response to light. This happens so the pupil can control the amount of light entering the eye for better vision. The pupils in the eyes normally get larger (dilate) in dim lighting and get smaller (constrict) in bright lighting. This condition, known as simple anisocoria, may go away on its own. A patient may have pupils of different sizes that both react normally to light. Many conditions other than Adie’s pupil can cause anisocoria. But the condition can also be bilateral, affecting both eyes. In 80% of cases, Adie’s tonic pupil is unilateral, meaning it affects only one eye, resulting in anisocoria. There are many causes of dilated pupils (pupils that are larger than normal) including eye injury, medications, recreational drugs and conditions such as Adie’s pupil. Normal pupil size ranges from 2.0 to 4.0 millimeters in bright light and 4.0 to 8.0 millimeters in the dark. If you have one pupil that is larger than the other, your eye doctor may need to do an exam to check for Adie’s tonic pupil. Adie’s syndrome is most common in women 20 to 40 years old. Horner syndrome is caused by interruption of the sympathetic nerves to an eye due from any cause.Adie’s tonic pupil, also known as Adie’s syndrome, is a nervous system condition that may cause unequal pupil sizes (anisocoria) and a slow reaction to light in the affected eye or, less commonly, eyes. Horner syndrome refers to the combination of a constricted pupil, drooping eyelid, and loss of sweating around the affected eye.
Disorders outside the brain that affect the sympathetic nervous system include tumors and injuries that involve the neck or upper part of the chest. Brain disorders that can affect these pathways include strokes, brain hemorrhage (spontaneous or due to head injury), and, less commonly, certain tumors or infections. Thus, people with nervous system disorders that affect the pupil often also have a drooping eyelid, double vision, and/or visibly misaligned eyes. These pathways carry nerve impulses to the pupil and to the muscles that control the eye and eyelid. This system works automatically (autonomously), without a person’s conscious. Nervous system disorders that cause unequal pupils are those that affect the 3rd cranial nerve or certain parts of the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system (the autonomic nervous system Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System The autonomic nervous system regulates certain body processes, such as blood pressure and the rate of breathing.