Anisocoria in unilateral ophthalmic disease

Abstract

Pupiliary diameters in the affected and unaffected eyes of 327 patients with uniocular red eye were assessed during fixation of a distant target. The mean pupiliary diameters were similar in the unaffected eyes in each of eight diagnostic groups, but were significantly different (F=3.84, p<0-001) in the diseased eyes. With corneal abrasions (p<0-001), marginal keratitis (p<005), and acute anterior uveitis (p<0-001) the mean pupillary diameter for the affected eye was significantly smaller than that of the unaffected eye. The observed differences of pupillary diameter probably reflect the role of neuronal and autocoid mechanisms in the unilateral control of pupillary size.