Anisocoria refers to a condition of the eyes in which both the pupils are of different sizes. This results in uncoordinated constriction and dilation of the pupils when moving from a bright region to a dimly-lit one. In some cases, the condition is considered to be normal. However, in others, it can be indicative of an underlying grave disorder that needs optometric intervention. The difference in pupil size can range from 0.5mm to 0.05 inches. If the disorder is present since birth, it generally means that there is no underlying medical condition. If it develops later in life and is greater than 1mm, it could necessitate medical attention.

Causes-

• Damage in iris muscles
• Horner’s syndrome
• Contact of parasympatholytic chemicals with cornea (common in hospital personnel and people who live in proximity to plants containing atropine )
• Third nerve palsy
• Viral infection of ciliary ganglion
• Eye drops/ drugs from asthma inhalers
• Aneurysm
• Bleeding in skull caused by injury
• Encephalitis/ meningitis
• Glaucoma
• Congenital anisocoria

Signs-

• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Headache
• Drooping eyelid
• Reduced sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Photosensitivity
• Neck pain
• Impaired vision

Treatment-

• Treatment for the disease starts by identifying the underlying cause of the disease. In most cases, it is more important to cure this cause, as it might be a serious medical condition.
• Since Anisocoria itself does not cause any harm to the eyes, it can be left untreated if it is not accompanied with any other complication.
• If the disease is caused by exposure to a certain drug/ chemical, eliminating this cause is enough to restore the size of the pupils back to normal.
• Anisocoria caused by mechanical damage to the eye’s tissues might need some time to heal on its own.
• In case inflammation has resulted in the condition, anti-inflammatory drugs might be prescribed.
• Cortisone is commonly prescribed to patients in whom the brain tissue is swollen.

Prevention-
Anisocoria can be prevented by protecting yourself from suspected causes of the disease. Patients who consume drugs with marijuana or cocaine are more prone to the disease, and can be prevent it by discontinuing use of these drugs. The effect of these drugs is that of dilating the pupils, and can last until the drug is completely eliminated from the system.

To know more about Anisocoria and its treatment, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254-634-7805.

Even though your preschooler’s vision might seem absolutely perfect, it is important to schedule regular eye exams, starting as early as 6 months. The American Optometrist Association, recommends at least two comprehensive eye exams after this, one at the age of 3, and the next at the age of 6, followed by once every two years for school-aged children. In children who have undergone visual correction with contact lenses or eyeglasses, eye exams should be conducted annually.

The importance of eye exams for children can be understood from the fact that 10% of preschoolers, and 25% of school-going children suffer from vision problems. Most of these disorders have a better chance of complete treatment when diagnosed early, since the eye is likely to be more responsive to treatment during early developmental stages. The key aspect that are examined during an eye exam are near vision, distant vision, perception of depth, eye movements, coordination between both eyes, hand-eye coordination, peripheral vision, color vision, and focusing ability.

You should book an appointment for your child’s eye examination at a time of the day when he is usually active and happy.  You must inform your eye doctor about any unusual symptoms that you notice in your child, which include eye redness, swelling, discharge, excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, inability to maintain eye contact, rubbing the eyes, excessive blinking, etc. It is also important to mention any other peculiarity that you feel might be significant, such as premature birth, injury to the eye, history of eye disease in the family, etc.

Infant’s eyes can be tested with the help of certain techniques which include testing pupil’s responses in bright and dim light; testing ability to fix glance on an object and follow it during movement; and using tools like striped cards to judge vision with the help of preferential looking, eliminating the need for a vision chart. Amblyopia is one of the most common vision disorders in young children, and can be corrected with the help of patches or spectacles. Strabismus, also known as cross-eye is also a fairly common disorder, and has better chances of being treated if detected early.

Vision tests can be helpful in diagnosing and correcting eye disorders in children, which if left unnoticed, can have a significant impact on the child’s performance at school, as well as in various other daily activities.

We at Killeen Eyecare Center offer a complete eye check up for all age groups. You can visit us at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen or call us at 254- 634- 7805.

As convenient and liberating as they may be, contact lenses come with a price tag in the form of the precautions that need to be taken while wearing them. The good news is that taking care of your contact lenses and ensuring that you do not suffer from any complication because of them, is no rocket science, and is actually a lot easier than most people imagine. Once you have got the basics of lens care right, and are used to the idea of wearing them, you just need to follow a few more precautions as listed below, to make the most of your contact lens wearing experience-

• Never go to sleep with your lenses on- When you sleep without taking off your contact lenses, they turn rigid and brittle since they do not receive the hydration that they normally do when you blink. Moreover, by doing so, you are putting the lens in direct contact with the cornea, increasing the likelihood of infection.
• Do not bring your lenses in contact with water- Right from splashing your eyes with water to swimming, all water-related activities should be done after taking off your lenses. That is because tap water usually contains the microorganism called acanthamoeba, which can cause serious eye infections.
• Use fresh contact lens solution each time- A common mistake made by lens wearers is to reuse the previous day’s solution. While this may seem as a good way to save on the solution, it is as bad as leaving your lenses soaked in water, since the disinfecting ability of the solution wears out after being used once.
• Remove lenses in case of any irritation- While it may seem as a perfectly logical thing to do, we usually end up being too busy to bother about any discomfort in our eyes. Do not ignore any redness or itching while wearing lenses, and make it a point to remove the lenses immediately. Try reinserting them after rinsing them, and contact your eye doctor if the irritation persists.
• Do not wear lenses that have been stored without regular disinfection for a period of more than 30 days.
• Make it a point to regularly replace your contact lens case, which might be a carrier of germs.
• Do not wear contact lenses for a period longer than that recommended by your Eye Doctor.
• Stay away from strong fumes and vapors like hairspray and deodorant when wearing lenses. If you must use them after wearing your lenses, spray away from your eyes and close eyes until the fumes settle.

For more information or any kind of eye glasses or contact lenses, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a procedure in which an optometrist tests your eyes for common vision problems, as well as serious eye diseases which may not have any prominent symptoms in their initial stages. The American Optometric Association recommends having this exam done at least once every two years, till the age of 61, and once every year after that.
Patients with a high risk factor for eye disease, such as diabetics, patients with history of eye disease in the family, or contact lens wearers, should have their eyes tested more frequently, as per the recommendation of their doctor. It is also important to get your eyes examined if you experience any abnormality in your vision, such as- double vision, decreased vision, redness in the eyes, swelling, pain, floaters, circles/halos, sensitivity to light, etc.

The exam is a painless procedure, which starts with the eyes being dilated with the help of drops, which help to widen the pupil. A magnifying lens is then used to perform a thorough examination of the retina, through which disorders like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration can be diagnosed. You might experience blurred close-up vision for several hours after the procedure. Other tests included in the exam are tonometry (measuring eye pressure to diagnose glaucoma), visual field test (performed to measure peripheral vision), and a visual acuity test.

The benefits of a comprehensive dilated eye exam are enlisted below-

• Immediate improvement of vision with the help of contact lenses/ glasses in patients with near-sightedness/ far-sightedness, and other vision disorders like presbyopia/ astigmatism
• Detection of progressive diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, for which early diagnosis is crucial.
• Diagnosis of graver disorders like eye/ brain tumor through swollen optic nerve head
• Diagnosis and treatment of infections, allergies, dry eye syndrome, and other contact lens- related complications

It is advisable to arrange for someone to drop you back home after getting a dilated eye exam, due to the blurred vision that follows the exam. Patients can also take along a pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes from the increased light sensitivity that might be experienced after the exam. Even though a dilated eye exam is usually optional, it is highly recommended by eye doctors due to the clear view of the back of the eye that is made possible by the dilation.

For affordable comprehensive dilated eye exam in Killeen, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.