Dilated Pupil

[Lfio10]

Four weeks ago I was hit in the left eye with a water balloon. I went to the er right away and for the past three weeks was told no major damage. I went for a four week follow up 3 days ago. My only concern now is my enlarged dilated pupil. Its huge compared to my normal eye. I was told that there could be a tear in my spchinter muscle but it's not noticeable to the specialist. It cld be there but it's microscopic. IIf there is a tear, will it heal? And if so, how long would that take to heal?

[Lfio10]

And my injury is 5 weeks old at this point...

[Lfio10]

I do have green eyes. Will a tear in the sphincter muscle of the iris heal? If so what is the typical rate that it would heal?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No atropine does not cause tears or permanent dilated pupil. Atropine is often used with trauma to the eye to reduce inflammation, prevent bleeding, reduce pain and rest the focus muscle. It's the trauma that does it not atropine.

At 5 weeks even in light colored blue or green iris the atropine should be metabolized and gone.

JCHMD

[Lfio10]

I stopped using the atropine drop 5 weeks ago.

[Lfio10]

Can the atropine drops cause permanent damage to the sphincter muscle? Is there is a microscopic tear in that muscle, is that something that will heal? My eye does constrict somewhat to light...

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You've posted this question elsewhere.  Use the search feature and archives to read previous discussions about "traumatic iridioplegia".  If you are using red top drops they dilate the eye to put it at rest.

If your pupil does not come down to normal size and react normally by 4  to 6 months it likely is permanent.

JC MD