Dilated Pupils

Pupil, as most of us know, is the structure of the eye which allows light to enter the retina. It is, basically a hole which has its location in the center of the iris. In case you were not aware of the fact why pupils are black, it is because most of the light that enters this hole is absorbed by the tissues inside the eye. Dilation of pupils is also known as pupillary response. It is basically defined as the widening of the pupils, due to various factors. Dilated pupils, in fact, is a normal occurrence which happens during the night in order to improve vision in the dark. But in some cases the pupils become abnormally wide. It is known as mydriasis. This, rather than being a medical condition in itself, is a symptom which is a manifestation of other factors affecting the body. However, people who suffer from mydriasis have their eyes dilated even in a bright environment.

What Causes Pupils to Dilate?

Pupil dilation occurs when there is a dearth of light entering the eyes. When you are in a dark room, the pupils dilate, meaning, they widen up in order to allow more light to enter the eyes and provide the brain with an image as clear as possible. On the other hand, when your eyes are subjected to a well-lit environment, your pupils would contract, as there is sufficient light reaching the eyes.

Then comes the use of drugs and medications as the other causes of unusual dilated eyes. Not only illegal drugs but certain over-the-counter medications also are known to cause this condition. It is common for users of marijuana, cocaine, to experience this condition.

If you are regular with eye check ups, then you must have noticed that every time your doctor puts some eye drops into your eyes, your eyes become dilated. These medications are known as mydriatics, which have the ability to voluntarily dilate the pupils so that they can be observed better. After using such medications, patients are recommended to wear sunglasses for an hour. This is because fully dilated pupils would take about an hour to return to their normal function and exposing them to bright conditions may damage the eyes.

One serious cause of dilated pupils could be poisoning, which could be caused by plants or chemicals. Strong libido is again, one of the natural reasons for pupil dilation. Whenever one is sexually aroused or even gets attracted towards someone, his/her pupils get dilated.

As far as the treatment goes, it depends upon the causes. Needless to say, naturally dilated pupils do not raise health concerns. However, causes such as poisoning, overdose of drugs and medications are situations which must be addressed. For instance, if at any time, one experiences pupil dilation after being exposed to any chemicals or fumes, it would be wise to visit a doctor and get things fixed.