What are sluggish pupils?

A sluggish or slow pupillary response may. indicate increased ICP, and nonreactive pupils are. often associated with severe increases in ICP and/or. severe brain damage. A complete pupillary reactivity examination also.

Why is one pupil big and the other small?

Normally the size of the pupil is the same in each eye, with both eyes dilating or constricting together. The term anisocoria refers to pupils that are different sizes at the same time. The presence of anisocoria can be normal (physiologic), or it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

Can anxiety cause dilated pupils?

For example, during anxiety episodes, your body receives a rush of adrenaline. That adrenaline prepares your body to fight or flee, and one of the ways it does that is by dilating your pupils. Other changes include tightened muscles, an increased heart-rate and increased blood flow to your peripheries.

Why do nurses check pupils?

Pupillary assessment is an important part of neurological assessment because changes in the size, equality and reactivity of the pupils can provide vital diagnostic information in the critically ill patient (Smith, 2003). Both pupils should be the same shape, size and react equally to light.

Is it bad to have pupil dilation?

If you are referring to having your eyes dilated with drops in the ophthalmologist’s office, this is generally safe, except when you have “narrow angles.”. If your pupil spontaneously dilates, this can be a sign of a problem in the brain (tumor, aneurysm, etc) and should be evaluated right away by an ophthalmologist.

Why would someone’s pupils not dilate?

4. Pupils not dilating due to drugs . On the other hand, opiates like heroin, morphine, fentanyl and codeine have the opposite effect, as they are depressors rather than stimulants. As a result, they cause the pupil to contract. The contraction of a pupil is called ‘miosis’.

What are the reasons for dilated pupils?

Dilated pupils are also known as mydriasis and may occur due to a variety of reasons such as brain injury, drug use, presence or absence of sunlight, etc. In some cases, one pupil is more dilated than the other and is termed as anisocoria.

What drugs make your pupils dilate?

Such medications are basically cold and cough medications, decongestants, and other illicit dilated pupils drugs or stimulants such as marijuana, LSD, and cocaine. Alcohol is also an addictive substance that is responsible for causing alcohol dilated pupils.