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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> eye dialation
        
(Message started by: bnfreeman on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 11:16pm)

Title: eye dialation
Post by bnfreeman on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 11:16pm

Does anyone ever notice if their eyes dialate during a headache? My pupils stay larger than normal and I always get asked if I am doped up because they get extremly large when I get a headache. I get clusters and migraines. I notice it more during the migraines. I have been to an optomitrist and they said I have no eye problems. They just noticed one pupil was larger than the other. Any input?

Brandi

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by ClusterChuck on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 11:21pm

I can't say that I have ever noticed it during a hit. My eye is usually puffy and semi closed. After a hit, I have never noticed it. either. What my left eye DOES look like, is HELL .. .. .. It is blood shot, half closed, and weeping.

Chuck

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by bnfreeman on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 11:32pm

I do get the lazy watery eye too. There are times I feel like I can't raise the eyelid. Like it's paralyzed.

BF

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 8:38am

My right eye droops and gets more noticeable as the cycle continues. Can't say that I've noticed dialation of my pupil. That's a symptom you may want to discuss with the doc.

Tom

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by Margi on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 9:34am

Yep, tell-tale sign of a clusterhead, if you ask me. I can usually tell before Mike can that an attack is coming, because his pupils are different-sized. Once the attack has passed, they're both back to normal.
Totally freaked a doctor out once, when he showed her that. I think she thought he was an alien. ::)
It's called Horton's Syndrome, isn't it? Or is that just the eyelid thing? Floridian, I know you have that reference in your tagline, so please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by Bladebabe on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 9:50am

The difference in pupil size is known as Horners Syndrome. It is a side effect syndrome of Cluster Headaches. In worst case scenarios, the pupil remains a different size permanantly. Just type in Horners Syndrome on your internet search engine and it will tell you all about it
:)

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by Karla on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 10:46am

My neuro explained to me that this was a normal symptom for someone with cluster headaches.

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by robtara on Jun 24^th, 2005, 9:54pm

Hi Brandi. I am unsure if I even have cluster headaches. I am currently trying to see what is going on. I have a constant headache and have since Dec 20 2000. But I do get the dialated eyes with headaches. Not all the time but a lot. I asked my eye Dr about it and he had no answer except to say that in the old days women would put a drug into their eyes to dialate them so they would be sexier. So he said I was lucky to have big sexy eyes. [smiley=laugh.gif] He said it wasn't doing damage though. He was able to give me an eye axam without dialation my eyes.

Tara

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 25^th, 2005, 2:24pm

I have the pupil dilation, too. My pupils will dilate equally during some attacks, but ever since someone pointed it out to me, I've noticed a larger right pupil after my attacks on the right. I never notice it before or during. Before, I'm not really thinking about it, and during, I'm not studying my reflection in the mirror. ;)

It does seem to occur in many CH'ers. One additional thing to note though is that you should always at least discuss this symptom with your neurologist or whomever is treating your clusters. Even if you tell an opthamologist, it is still best to also discuss it with your main CH treating physician.

This is because, a larger pupil can also indicate a higher pressure in the brain. This can happen to people with tumors, unruptured aneurysms, and some other quite dangerous secondary headache causes.

I'm not really sure unless I go read up on this more, but I would think that maybe the pupil would stay dilated as a result of increased pressure and in CH, it would probably coincide more with the actual attack and return to normal between attacks.

However, just because it can be a symptom of something else besides cluster, it is always a good idea to discuss it with the neuro. Plus, if it's a new symptom...always another good reason to ask the doc.

Makes ya feel kinda freaky though when you see that pupil, doesn't it? hehe I know I always look in the mirror and think "woah! my brain might blow up during this attack!" haha

Lizzie :)

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by Jasen on Jun 25^th, 2005, 4:16pm

I get it a tad bit. But it's not people realy notice. Also get the bloodshot eyes and a little lid trouble. Sometimes it feels like it sticks closed and I have to make an extra effort to open it.

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by TonyG1 on Jun 25^th, 2005, 7:58pm

I get dialation in my left eye during an attack... that is my cluster side. [smiley=hammer.gif]

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by bnfreeman on Jun 25^th, 2005, 10:28pm

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Before I knew I had CH I went to the eye doctor just to have them checkout. She noticed one pupil bigger than the other. She wanted to do the cocaine test that they do for Horton's Syndrome. But she never did.

Instead, wrote a note for me to give my neuro at the time. My neuro said she took offense to the note. Needless to say she was a bitch and I fired her. She diagnossed me with stress headaches and migraines and sent me to physical therapy. I never went.

I will talk it over with my new doc who I like and see if he says anything.

Thanks again,
Brandi

Title: Re: eye dialation
Post by duerrs on Jul 12^th, 2005, 6:43pm

pretty funny about the eye, i had clusters for 16 years before i finally went to a neuro and he told me where the pain was right away, he then pointed out the eye, which for me stays two different sizes for the duration of my cycle with or without ch, someone also pointed out that my nose colapses while i'm having the pain. i never would have noticed the eye without the neuro.