Dilated pupils in 8 yr old

[mwasc]

Anyone got any ideas whether I need to get my dd checked out as her pupils are dilated all the time and been like this for some time. I keep thinking her eyes look wierd and then realise what it is. She seems well otherwise.
Cheers

[amazingmumof6]

for how long has she had this? any head injury?

I'd go to A&E straight away, if there's pressure on the optic nerve the pupils react differently to normal function - what causes the pressure?

she could have ingested some toxic substance (poison? drugs?) a blood test and a urine test might be necessary

meningitis?

I'm not a doctor, so these are just some of the possibilities I can think of - one is scarier than the other! (sorry!)

I'd go asap!

[botandhothered]

Not sure if it's necessarily a sign that something is wrong. I have always had dilated pupils.
Often people close to me have commented on it. I am shortsighted, but I don't think that is anything to do with it.
The optitian has never mentioned it, either. I'm 38!!
Sometimes people have asked if I am on drugs..but I'm not!

[3littlefrogs]

Short sightedness is linked to dilated pupils.

Book a sight test with an optician.

when you say "some time" do you mean

hours?
days?
weeks?

Because obviuosly that would make a big difference to the action you should take.

[cheekyginger]

Hi mwasc,

Think i commented on your other post. Sorry if im repeating myself.

Pupil abnormalities should be checked out by an optician. IMO A&E is a bit excessive unless your DD is also complaining of extreme headaches or nausea.

Main thing is not to panic!

[Zavi]

It's normal for pupils to be dilated in low light.

Shine a bright light into the pupils. They should constrict immediately and evenly (i.e. they should end up being as small as each other).

If that doesn't happen have it checked out (by a Dr, not an optician) but as other poster said if child seems fine otherwise this is unusual but not an emergency.

[mwasc]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'll make an appointment with the optician ASAP. When i say sometime I'm talking weeks. At first i just kept noticing there was something strange about her eyes and kept thinking they were puffy but eventually realised it was her pupils. My Dh of course notices nothing and she could turn up with two heads and not notice!! Lol Thanks for the reassurance that's helped a lot!