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Suggest Remedy For Constricted Pupils After Injury To Bridge Of Nose

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Posted on Mon, 10 Aug 2015
Question: I have constricted pupils after a falling and hitting the bridge of my nose on table. Pretty sure the nose is broken. It's been a week and pupils are still constricted. Still a little swelling and bruising with headache.
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (31 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No indication of brain injury.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am really sorry about what happened to you.

Regarding your worry about constricted pupils though, first I wonder what do you call constricted. The normal pupil size is from 2 to 4 mm (that is in light, when in the dark 4-8 mm). Also are you sure that there has been a change after the fall, or could it be that they have always been that way. Are the pupils of the same diameter (right and left), have you noticed whether they constrict when exposed to light.

The reason I am sounding skeptical, asking these questions, is because constricted pupils on both sides are not indicative of any brain damage due to trauma. Had it been only on one side (Horner syndrome) then some concern would be legitimate, but constricted pupils on both sides are not suggestive of a focal brain lesion.
They can be found in intoxication from drugs like benzodiazepines or opiates, which you do not mention.
There are some brainstem lesions (pontine region) which can produce bilaterally constricted pupils, but not as a sole sign, you would be tetraplegic and in a coma, so obviously not your case.
There is also the finding of Argyll Robertson pupil, in which bilateral small pupils are due to neurosyphilis or diabetes, but would be present long before the trauma.

So while you can get checked from your physician just in case, I doubt that there is a pupillary constriction due to trauma. In traumatic brain lesions more commonly there is manifestation of dilatation. Anyway it would be on the one side, not both as I explained before, it is asymmetry which worries us doctors the most.

As for some swelling and headache that is normal after such a hit, it will need a few weeks to gradually subside. The greatest danger after a head injury is in the first few days, mostly 24 hours, after a week you should be safe.

I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Constricted Pupils After Injury To Bridge Of Nose

Brief Answer: No indication of brain injury. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I am really sorry about what happened to you. Regarding your worry about constricted pupils though, first I wonder what do you call constricted. The normal pupil size is from 2 to 4 mm (that is in light, when in the dark 4-8 mm). Also are you sure that there has been a change after the fall, or could it be that they have always been that way. Are the pupils of the same diameter (right and left), have you noticed whether they constrict when exposed to light. The reason I am sounding skeptical, asking these questions, is because constricted pupils on both sides are not indicative of any brain damage due to trauma. Had it been only on one side (Horner syndrome) then some concern would be legitimate, but constricted pupils on both sides are not suggestive of a focal brain lesion. They can be found in intoxication from drugs like benzodiazepines or opiates, which you do not mention. There are some brainstem lesions (pontine region) which can produce bilaterally constricted pupils, but not as a sole sign, you would be tetraplegic and in a coma, so obviously not your case. There is also the finding of Argyll Robertson pupil, in which bilateral small pupils are due to neurosyphilis or diabetes, but would be present long before the trauma. So while you can get checked from your physician just in case, I doubt that there is a pupillary constriction due to trauma. In traumatic brain lesions more commonly there is manifestation of dilatation. Anyway it would be on the one side, not both as I explained before, it is asymmetry which worries us doctors the most. As for some swelling and headache that is normal after such a hit, it will need a few weeks to gradually subside. The greatest danger after a head injury is in the first few days, mostly 24 hours, after a week you should be safe. I remain at your disposal for further questions.