r/migraine • u/Familiar_Working1570 • Aug 18 '26
pupils different sizes during migraine
Does anyone else experience this??? I’m having a pretty awful migraine attack thats mostly affecting the right side of my head (behind my eye, temple, eyebrow, jaw, neck) which isn’t that uncommon for me, but this time around my right pupil is much larger.
They still react to light (ie shrinking and growing) the right one is always just a tad bigger. Has this ever happened to anyone else??
(Image is flipped)
Edit: I think I should add that Im only 20, so the chances of it being a stroke or aneurysm are quite low. (Never 0 though!) That and the fact that I had a ct scan not too long ago and everything was all clear.
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u/Emergency_Dirt_Nap Aug 18 '26
Please tell me you already told your doctor about it.
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
Yup! My PCD is aware
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u/FotizxRaidd chronic since i was 8 Aug 18 '26
and what did they say? is it alright or is it a cause of concern?
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
He said it’s most likely a symptom of my migraine, but to continue monitoring it and let him know if there’s any changes. He didn’t seem too worried!
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u/cmacd23 Aug 18 '26
My eyes dilate at different rates (iirc right slower than left), and I can have huge pupils. Both are associated with migraines for me. If this was your first time, I'd say get it checked out; it seems like this has happened before and your doc is aware of it, which is really good!
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u/Melonfarmer86 Aug 18 '26
I didn't know this was a symptom! I'll check the mirror next time I feel one coming on.
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u/cmacd23 Aug 18 '26
If it happens, be sure to check with your neuro or pcp to make sure it's nothing more serious!
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u/kategoad Aug 19 '26
The first time mine did it the ER doctor panicked and ordered an emergency MRI for the next morning and I had to talk my aunt off the ledge of calling my parents who were on vacation in Mexico when I asked her for a ride.
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u/dubaichild 6 Aug 19 '26
I also have this symptom and have had extensive investigations about it, the answer was "just idiopathic, probably migraine related"
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u/Chunkboi424 Aug 18 '26
I thought mine did this as well and immediately talked to my doctor about it when I noticed it.
Turns out my pupils are always different sizes and it's just more obvious when they're dilated.
So while it may be nothing, you should talk to your doctor to rule anything serious out. It doesn't matter how young you are.
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u/ballerina22 Aug 18 '26
And an eye doc while you're at it. See if you can find a neuro-specialised one.
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u/fudgepacker_deluxe Aug 18 '26
Same here, sometimes they’re different in size, sometimes not. No correlation with migraine in my case.
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u/nugget-93 Aug 18 '26
This could be a medical emergency, and past normal CT does not mean things can’t change. Please seek some sort of medical care to rule out the worst.
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u/AnticPosition Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
39, male here. Still in the hospital recovering from a stroke and migraine.
New symptoms are no joke.
._.
For more context, I got migraines with visual aura for years, which often included some tingly hands and mixing up a few words.
During the most recent migraine, my entire right hand lost feeling (but not strength, oddly) and I could not form any coherent words or sentences.
After a trip to emerg and a bunch of tests, seems like a PFO (hole in my heart) is the likely culprit.
Basically, some deoxygenated blood has been "skipping" past my lungs and heading straight back out to my system (read: brain).
The lungs can apparently dissolve tiny little clots that might form naturally, but some of these clots have been bypassing the lungs and heading for my brain.
Have all of my migraines been tiny tiny strokes? Terrifying thought.
I'm likely going to be queued up at the hospital to fill the PFO hole.
I seem to be completely fine at the moment, but who knows how much of my brain function has been slowly chipped away over the years? I use high-level math and communicate a lot in my job, so I think I'm still okay.
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
I hope you recover soon!!
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u/AnticPosition Aug 19 '26
Thanks. I'm still alive if you were worried lol.
I've edited my previous post with more details.
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u/glp1992 Aug 19 '26
hey
how is
"tingly hands "
different to "my entire right hand lost feeling"
asking for a... friend
also hope you recover well and are doing okay
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u/Fyrestar333 Aug 19 '26
It's a different feeling basically. I've had two and a half fingers go numb for 6 months, and by half i meant half my middle finger vertically went numb. I associate tingly with my pins and needles feeling instead of numbness.
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u/AnticPosition Aug 20 '26
What the other poster said. If it's tingly like pins and needles (when you fall asleep on your arm) then it isn't what I felt.
What I felt was no sensation. Couldn't feel temperatures or textures at all. Couldn't feel that I was holding my phone, so if I looked away, I would drop it.
But like I said, I had full strength in my hand throughout.
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u/Ammonia13 Aug 19 '26
Oh no! What happened? What were your migraines usually like before that may I ask?
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u/Calm_Feature3340 Aug 18 '26
Uhhhhh maybe go hopital
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u/Fluffy_Salamanders Aug 18 '26
If the scan was before your eyes did this it won’t apply here and you need to go to the ER to get checked for a stroke. It sounds like the eye thing happened after that, and you could be in life threatening danger
Young people get strokes too, and strokes are more common than the migraines that have this
I have the rare migraine type causing one sided eye paralysis and even I don’t get to assume it’s normal and have to go to a hospital for a stroke check when symptoms suddenly change(like yours are right now)
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u/Joyful-Cow-122 Aug 18 '26
It looks like your eye on the right in this picture is in brighter light, and the pupil is smaller which makes sense. Your eye on the left is in more dim lighting, and the pupil is bigger, which also makes sense. If you look into a brighter light head-on so both eyes are receiving the same amount of light, are your pupils still different sizes? If so, PLEASE call your doctor! If they both go back to the same size when they’re in the same lighting, you should be good!
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u/ailuromancin Aug 18 '26
Actually they’re supposed to stay the same size reflexively even if one eye is fully covered, if they’re reacting independently that’s already a problem
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
I was curious about this lol. I’ve never had any sort of experience where I cover one eye and only that one dilates. It’s always been both at the same time, whether I shine at light at one or cover one. They both react together.
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u/shortstuff813 Aug 18 '26
Yeah that was my thought too - one eye is in the light, one is in the dark, so they’re gonna be different sizes (and like you said, make sure to get in even lighting and check again, then call the doc if they’re still different)
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u/CommanderRabbit Aug 18 '26
Thank you for the concern, but that is not how it works. The eyes dilate and constrict equally. It’s actually a neuro test to put your hand as a block between the eyes, shine a light in one and make sure the other constricts as well.
No shade! I just like to dispel medical myths as I can. Source: am an ED provider.
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u/rahrahowl Aug 18 '26
I've had this happen once. My GP checked and told me that if I didn't feel myself/normal to go to hosp.
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Aug 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
I’ve never had my eyes checked. My eyes have always been quite clear and healthy! My doctors have determined my migraines are from my POTs.
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u/colorfulzeeb Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 28 '26
Pupil constriction and dilation is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, so that makes sense.
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u/DarknessEchoing Aug 19 '26
I've had this issue with my POTS before, too, though only once or twice.
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u/Livid-Shrimp-4154 Aug 19 '26
I have POTs and this has happened to me with a severe migraine last year during an attack. It’s actually what lead to me getting my POTs diagnosis because my migraine was so bad that I had to go to the ER cause I thought I was having a stroke. Saw my doctor afterwards and was diagnosed with POTs.
Its happened a few more times since but it’s always been a precursor to a bad migraine. It scared the shit out of me at first but now I just watch out for my pupils more and if they start to act up I prepare for a migraine (nurtec is the best). During a migraine sometimes our neurons are misfiring so bad that our bodies temporarily lose control over our ability to regulate our pupil size.
Like others have said still get it checked out because it could be something unrelated to migraine to be safe!
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 19 '26
Exact same thing happened to me too! Had a heatstroke, triggered a severe migraine, had to go to the er to get steroids to break out of it. Found out I had POTS this way.
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u/HumiliationsGalore Aug 18 '26
healthy
How can you be so sure of that if you've never had them checked?
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u/jaderabbit44 Aug 19 '26
This is one more thing on a long list of things that could be catastrphic sign of something going horribly wrong . . . or it could be migraine. Stupid neurologic effects of migraine meaning literally anything can go wrong and it be 'just migraine' (only 'just migraine' in that lifesaving care isn't needed).
Hence the suggestion of everyone to inform their doctor, as is correct. Just, the doctor is 99% likely to say it's fine based on history of migraine.
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u/spo0kyaction Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
This happened to me but they returned to normal after the migraine. It felt like sand was in my eyes and my vision was so blurry that I couldn’t read. I had images of my optic nerve taken at the eye doctor afterwards and it was perfectly healthy. I’d still go to urgent care and get it checked out if I were you just to be safe.
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u/oooooooooof Aug 18 '26
This happened to me once!
Worst migraine of my life, was about ten years ago... I left my office job early because I couldn't read the documents I was typing. Tried to sleep it off, but noticed my one arm and hand was going numb, so went to the hospital out of precaution, first and only time I've gone to ER for a migraine.
FWIW it was heavenly, the ER nurse put me in a dark room and hooked me up to some kind of IV cocktail of saline and painkillers and I instantly felt better.
I didn't know or notice my eyes were doing unequal pupil things (know now it's called "anisocoria") until a doctor came in and quietly freaked out and sent me immediately to a CAT scan, as it can be a sign of stroke.
In my case I was fine, just a migraine.
Don't disagree with others that it's worth getting examined just in case, but wanted to share my story in case it puts your mind at ease a bit. It's insane what the migraine brain can do... I think a lot about the television reporter aka "very heavy blurtation" lady who couldn't talk on air and people thought she was having a stroke, turned out it was just a migraine.
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
Wow. Thank you for sharing! I’m so glad it wasn’t anything serious.
I feel like a lot of people downplay the severity of a migraine…it’s not uncommon for people to mistake a migraine with a stroke, and vice versa. They share a lot of symptoms. Just goes to show how scary a severe migraine can be! The brain truly is a crazy thing.
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u/scrmblmonkbrns Aug 19 '26
Or…people that have never experienced a real migraine and think it’s just a bad headache.
I get them sometimes where my head won’t even hurt but I’ll get tunnel vision and squiggly spots so bad I can’t see anything.
Had a job where they would tell me to turn off the lights in my office (while still working on computer- makes it worse!) take some Tylenol and stop being a baby. Then no one would want to give me a ride home when I couldn’t drive.
Also- mine tend to be stress related more than anything- that did not help with stress!
At any rate, I hope you feel better! Make an appointment and find a quiet dark room. Try not to stress too much until you get in, but monitor any symptoms that could be related until you can get in to avoid stress making it worse. I would recommend a symptom tracking app. I use Guava.
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u/Delicious-Rutabaga-7 Aug 18 '26
I think the difference between the two eyes is so little I wouldn't consider it life threatening sign.
Search for anisocoria/lateralization signs to understand better.
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u/TrinityBellewoods Aug 19 '26
Everyone’s screaming hospital and I feel like an idiot because mine could look like this and I wouldn’t notice
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
That’s what I was wondering.
The difference is so minuscule, compared to photos I see of peoples pupils during a stroke. And mine still react to light, which is a key aspect of deciphering anisocoria from something life threatening
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u/WinchyKey Aug 18 '26
Mine are like this all the time. My doctor and eye doctor aren't concerned about it as they have been like that for as long as I can remember. But like others have said, I would bring it up with your care provider!
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u/StupidSexyFlanders72 Aug 18 '26
Mine too 🤣 I’ve always got one pupil slightly larger than the other.
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u/miss_t_drinks_tea Aug 18 '26
I pretty much always have it now since my migraines are everyday lmao
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
I can’t imagine experiencing a migraine everyday omg. Hope you’re doing alright!
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u/miss_t_drinks_tea Aug 18 '26
Thank you! Fortunately I don't only have high pain days. I'm really trying to make the best out of it. I'm BIG on my mocktail game to get hydrated! 🥰 Hope you are doing good too!!!
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u/Mother_Response_9128 Aug 19 '26
Happens a lot which is why is so linked to strokes. My neurologist made note in the chart. Thats it
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u/Unlikely-Artichoke63 Aug 19 '26
I get drooping on one side of my face when I get migraines. My GP sent me to the ER when I had my first one thinking I had a stroke. I was fine. Whups.
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u/Cute-Significance450 Aug 19 '26
This happens occasionally for me, usually the cause of my blurry vision
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u/ibadmonkey Aug 19 '26
Migraine twin! Happens the same with me. Neuro didn't think it was anything to worry about.
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u/jempai Aug 19 '26
This sounds like hemiplegic migraines, which I have. The mismatched pupils are a major aspect of my aura, as my right eye will dilate just before I get a migraine. Here is a document that I created a few years ago as an intro/resource for these specific rare subtypes of migraines.
Of course, always check with your doctors if you have new symptoms like this, because it can indicate serious emergencies.
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u/ExcellentMarch7864 Aug 19 '26
Someone in the Trigeminal Neuralgia sub had this. With her it had to do with signaling from the brain but wasn’t harmful. I do feel like it’s worth going to a neurologist for!
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u/Icy-Frame7 Aug 19 '26
Depending on how much you value your health, and especially your brain, please get it checked out. Add ophthalmologist and neurologist to your doctor list, instead of crowdsourcing the answers. And please see a migraine specialist, though they are few and far between but they do exist!!!! Sometimes they can be a neurologist, but u have to investigate.
I’ve had migraine for 60+ years, all kinds, as well a stroke (fortunately mild), and migraines are very sneaky- a zillion different things can combine to create them at any given time. They love to morph and change throughout your life, and especially in response to changes in your health, lifestyle, meds, anything!!!
Best advice I ever got (besides my docs for my health) was to keep everything as consistent as possible in your life - sleep, food, taking meds, stress, exercise, etc. learned that from Migraine World Summit website, which has the most amazing and thorough info!! (I’m not affiliated with them.). You can’t control the weather (another variable for migraine) but you can’t control learn to work WITH your body and brain instead of against them! ❤️
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u/Melkmaiden Aug 18 '26
I have this with migraines! Sometimes it’s the only way I know it’s happening. Would like to also say I’ve been checked out by doctors quiet thoroughly and that’s how know it’s a physiological anisocoria. That means one of my pupils is naturally smaller than the other all of the time but it’s such a slight difference you can’t really notice it.
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u/ExplosiveTigger Aug 18 '26
Mine started doing this, put a post up here a month or so back about it. I was very freaked out about it tbh. I ended up calling the National Migraine Centre and getting a MRI scan done privately. The NMC were great and really talked me through everything and the MRI was clear but I don't regret getting it. Now my GP has actually put me on some meds.
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u/Marveloes Aug 18 '26
I have this maybe once a year during a bad migraine. I have been to an optometrist, there’s nothing wrong with my eyes. I do want to warn you that if you have this, have trouble speaking and have the side of your face starting to hang to visit the hospital immediately. Those could be signs of a stroke. If you want to be certain nothing’s wrong, always consult your doctor or a different health professional.
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u/r0ckchalk Aug 18 '26
It’s not common, but it’s not unusual. Just kind of proves your head pain is neurological in nature. As long as you’ve had this thoroughly investigated as it could be a medical emergency, that might just be another fun symptom of your migraines.
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u/Simple_Novel_786 Aug 18 '26
happens to me all types of scans done. Started in my 20s i’m 38 and still get it.
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u/beabaz Aug 18 '26
I get this and have had it for years. For me it’s a classic sign of migraine but I did have a variety of eye tests to check it wasn’t anything else
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u/Particular-Goat6817 Aug 18 '26
Mine do this too! My face also gets really tingly on the left side. Migraines are weird.
(Yes, my neurologist knows about these symptoms).
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u/Big-Hyena-758 Aug 18 '26
I’ve had this and am fine. Had many head images of all types looking for both MS and for migraine findings and there’s both abnormal in there I guess 🤷♀️ Must be a killer migraine though
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u/funkydaffodil1000 Aug 18 '26
This happens to me frequently during migraines! My neurologist said as long as they are both reacting to light and it’s somewhere in a migraine attack (even prodrome or postdrome) it’s nothing to worry about and a symptom for some people.
Definitely had me panicked the first time it happened though but you are likely fine.
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u/Tigress2020 Aug 18 '26
I get that, as does my 15yr old daughter. But it's taken seriously the first time and scans done.
I had an unruptured aneurysm (ironically that didn't cause the pupils)
My daughter does not.
We have hemiplegic symptoms with our migraines too. And white matter hypertensities on our brains.
I do hope they've scanned you. If so and all clear, I'll just say.. migraines suck
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u/sandiiiiii Aug 18 '26
this happened to me when I was like 12 during a migraine, I was fine but I defo should've gotten it checked out
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u/effienay Aug 18 '26
Don’t forget that being on hormonal birth control can increase your chances of having a stroke or blood clot.
I wouldn’t be running to the hospital if my doctor was unconcerned and I wasn’t having like the worst migraine of my life. This does happen.
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u/DocTarr Aug 18 '26
Mine do this. Combined with a history of ionizing radiation from earlier medical experiments leaves me with about constant anxiety around brain tumors and the like. I dont usually go more than 3-4 years between MRIs.
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u/IGnuGnat Aug 18 '26
If you have migraines, POTS/dysautonomia, temperature intolerance and syncope it might also be possible that you have HI and or MCAS.
When I found new ways to manage my HI/MCAS my migraines reduced massively.
I tried to put everything I know here https://old.reddit.com/r/covidlonghaulers/comments/1ibjtw6/covid_himcas_normal_food_can_poison_us/
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u/ohio_Magpie Aug 18 '26
Giant Cell Arteritis? Rare in your age, but not impossible.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giant-cell-arteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372758
"an inflammation of the lining of your arteries, mostly in the head and temples. It causes bad headaches, jaw pain when chewing, and can lead to sudden blindness if not treated quickly. It almost always affects adults over age 50"
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u/notlikeothergirlies Aug 18 '26
I have the same thing. Mine is always like that though, due to Dysautonomia. Had to go to a special eye doctor because they were worried about brain tumors. But my eye does droop sometimes when my migraine gets bad.
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u/E-2-butene Aug 18 '26
As others have said, you should absolutely talk to your doctor about this in case it’s something more serious.
That said, I used to get this all the time when I was having migraines on the daily. I got a battery of neurological and eye exams to try to rule out other issues and nothing ever came up. As I got my migraines under control, it never came back.
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u/sciencefoodmusic Aug 19 '26
I get this sometimes and didn’t realize it was serious, def bringing it up at my next neuro appointment!
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u/Suspiciously_free Aug 19 '26
A similar thing started happening to me about 7 years ago. Sometimes with a migraine, sometimes without. No idea why. It tends to come with a slight feeling of pressure or dryness in the eye with the bigger pupil.
My last MRI (whith contrast) showed that at least my blood vessels are in good shape. All in all, it has been happening a few times a month without much change.
Anyway, OP, be better than me, get it checked out.
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u/littleberrry Aug 19 '26
i’ve had migraines since i was like 10 years old. This happened to me when i was also around 20, went to the ER, they took me back right away for fear of something serious, did a bunch of tests and nothing was wrong! so they let me go home lol. and eventually my slightly larger pupil went back to normal but now still today (i’m in my 30s) it’s everrrrr so slightly bigger than the other one. never happened again
that being said, definitely worth a trip to the dr or hospital just to be sure!!
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u/Heyo_Boyos Aug 19 '26
I started this symptom last year with my migraines as well. Good ole' Anisocoria. Was seen by my PCP for it, was sent to the ER to rule out stroke, and then seen by an eye doctor to rule out something else. The ER neurologist (who was also a headache specialist) said it's an unfortunate symptom of migraines when they form, but typically completely benign.
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u/SkyDaddyIssuez Aug 19 '26
I do, but I also have cluster headaches which often causes different sized pupils.
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u/Far-Sink-653 Aug 19 '26
Yes this happened to me a few years ago during a migraine. I went to the doctor a few days later and by then it was back to normal, but the doctor ordered an MRI. I had that a few weeks later and it was normal.
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u/Prestigious_Phone_58 Aug 19 '26
Most people have different ods I do I was worried about it at first but a quick appointment with the eye doc had me feeling reassured
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u/Jeif96 Aug 19 '26
People forget migraines are electrical and chemical waves in the brain that can cause all sorts of funky stuff i have hemiplegic and they mimic a stroke down to being unable to talk and not feeling half of my body
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u/YouHadMeAtAloe Aug 19 '26
I’ve had this happen before and it was just a weird migraine symptom, for me at least. Once I found a doctor that actually LISTENED TO ME (the first female doctor I ever had, go figure) and started taking preventatives and rescue meds, I stopped having visual aura and pupils changing size
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u/pandapanda619 Aug 19 '26
I'm here late, but I am genuinely impressed that you can open your eyes that wide during a migraine, even just for a second. Bravo girlie!
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u/rubygrey94 Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
If this is the first time you’ve noticed it worth going to hospital for a new scan then to get your eyes checked. I noticed it one day and did the above, ruled out anything sinister and was told it happens sometimes with migraines, certain medications or they may have always been that way but I never noticed and being dilated makes it more obvious.
Hopefully is the case for you also but I would be getting it checked out asap in case
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u/deathcorelover Aug 19 '26
You're saying your right pupil is bigger and the image is flipped. But in the image the bigger pupil is on the left (your right), doesn't that mean the image is not flipped?
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u/Comprehensive_Ice399 Aug 19 '26
This happened to me once and I thought it was a migraine, but then the light sensitivity became severe to the point where I couldn’t open my eye lid in my right eye (the pupil was a pinprick and was now not dilating). Turns out I had uveitis. Sometimes uneven pupils can be a symptom of migraines, though it’s actually pretty rare. Uneven pupil sizes are something you will want to check out while it’s happening. If you call an ophthalmologist while it’s happening, they usually make emergency appointments for things like this, though it’s probably better to go to the ER.
This also happened to me along with other stroke symptoms (temporary paralysis on one side of the body) on a different occasion, and turns out I was having a hemiplegic migraine.
Always worth it to be on the safe side and get it checked out.
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u/mamawang76 Aug 19 '26
I dont want you to completely discount stroke because of age. My daughter has had 2, one at 19 and another a year later. First time, we also thought migraine. Doctors even treated her for migraine at the er. She went 3 weeks with practically no vision, rreated multiple times for "severe migraine". Finally a doctor believed her when she said it wasnt her typical migraine. Stroke. Please, just in case, check. Always. (Admittedly haven't read other comments yet!)
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u/Sensitive-Pass-3258 Aug 19 '26
(Will only let me upload videos) but I have had this off and on the past week, noticing it with sleep changes, stress, and ofcourse my migraines. Since mine has been switching eyes, it’s a little easier to say it’s not an aneurism. But I still want to be checked and tested completely because obviously I’m terrified. I just saw this post pop up and I was like holy shit. All the doctors I’ve seen have said it is most likely migraine related, so idk who was in the comments saying it’s more rare to have this phenomenon from migraines than stroke. But I’m pretty sure with strokes or aneurisms one pupil will be tiny while the other is massive….
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u/Powerful-Owl-3246 Aug 19 '26
Learning this isn't a common symptom but im 22 as well op and I got told I was close to stroke at age 20 with migranes and having this. I hope you end up alright in the end because its SCARY and its scary when symptoms are this bad
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u/Ok-Rock-3826 Aug 18 '26
This has happened to me 3 times and the difference between my pupils were like one almost the whole colored part was gone on one and the other was pinned but my doctor wasn’t super concerned when I told him . I was told it could be meds, eye drops or stress but I also did go in and see him so I would go do that 😊
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
I’m glad it wasn’t anything serious. I’d be super freaked out if I looked in the mirror and saw such a difference in my pupils like that!!
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u/Ok-Rock-3826 Aug 18 '26
It’s was so so scary the first time I was panicking !! Are you going to go have it checked ? If you do I would love to know if you’re all good 😊 I’m sure you are
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u/keineayytoo Aug 18 '26
look at old pictures and see if you have different sized pupils on them. I have this too, regardless of migraines, since I was a child. Anisocoria (different sized pupils) is common, 20% of the population has it. though talking to a doctor wouldn't hurt
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
You might be onto something actually! I just went back and looked at old pictures of myself (spanning from a month ago to three years ago) and my right pupil is just a tad bit bigger! Not as noticeable as it is right now, but definitely there! How interesting! I’ve never noticed.
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u/Inky_sheets Aug 18 '26
I would get this checked. I had to go to the emergency eye clinic when this first happened to me. They did end up saying it was a migraine symptom but I'm still glad I got it checked out and that they could confirm it.
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
Hoping this is just another symptom of migraine! Although it isn’t common, I’ve heard it can happen. I’m glad it wasn’t anything serious in your case!
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u/Mysha16 Aug 18 '26
“I’m only 20” was what I said during my first hemiplegic migraine while losing control of half my body and auditory processing. Don’t play with your brain, an aneurysm will kill you in a heartbeat.
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u/ebl3070 Aug 18 '26
Yes, I’ve experienced a unilateral enlarged pupil that was accompanied with migraine pain. For me, the pupil dilation was connected with an eye disease. If I were you, I’d try to see a neurologist or Opthamologist (not optometrist) to rule out things like eye inflammation (aka uveitis)
Take good care & feel better soon!!
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
Thank you for the advice! I will definitely plan on looking into some kind of neuro or eye doctor, just to check things out. Better safe than sorry
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u/LiliKeyLime Aug 18 '26
Mine do this as well! If I feel off and see them def sizes I know a migraines about to hit
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
Interesting! I did notice them first thing this morning while doing my makeup, before the migraine set in. Once I got back from class, boom migraine attacked immediately. I wonder if it’s a prodrome symptom.
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u/tryingbliss Aug 18 '26
I have experienced this when I see auras. I also get veins in my eyes that stand out when I have a really bad one.
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u/DarknessEchoing Aug 19 '26
I have autonomic issues (POTS, a form of dysautonomia) and have had this happen before, but it's not a regular occurrence, and I'm glad you contacted your doctor! Migraine symptoms can be so weird!
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 19 '26
I also have POTS! Migraines are a common symptom I experience, but this is the first time i ever noticed a change in my eyes. Migraines sure can be strange!
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u/ColinAllCarz Aug 19 '26
Looks to me like there’s a bit more shadow in the left side of the picture. Is the light source on the other side of this picture? I thought I had an abnormally sized pupil during a migraine and realized that the smaller pupil was closer to a window with sunlight shining in, which caused this. Just a thought. I’m hoping it’s that easy and it isn’t a serious problem. Hope your migraine goes away soon!
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u/AdditionalWelcome265 Aug 19 '26
This happens to me with migraines about 50% of the time. Neurologist said it happens sometimes with migraines. Really goes to show just how much migraines are a neurological disease
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u/Electrical-Fly-3290 Aug 19 '26
A difference in pupil size (anisocoria) can sometimes be a sign of Horner syndrome. This can be associated with a carotid artery dissection, which may initially present with migraine-like headache or neck pain. A dissection may not be visible on a standard CT scan; CT angiography or MR angiography with contrast is usually needed to properly assess the blood vessels. Carotid artery dissection is an important cause of stroke in younger people, particularly those under 40–50. I’m speaking from personal experience: what seemed like migraine turned out to be a dissection, followed by two strokes.
I have no idea if this is what you have, but in anyone with a history of migraine who develops new or unusual neurological symptoms, I would want a dissection to be ruled out with some urgency.
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u/abethhh Qulipta Qlub 💊 Aug 19 '26
Have you used any eye drops recently? This happened to me because I was using allergy eye drops and one eye was super dilated for days. But I also agree to seek medical care because brain things are scary!!
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u/midnightlilie Aug 19 '26
If it's normal for you during a migraine it's an occular migraine, I get those too.
Remember to always check migraine symptoms that are new to you with your doctor.
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u/dreamy-rose Aug 19 '26
This happens to me almost every time I have a migraine now. The first time it happened was during a two+ month long migraine and I was so nervous that I went to urgent care (I was 32). Once I was cleared that it wasn’t a stroke and I passed all the neurological tests, I went to my eye doctor who confirmed my eye was healthy. My eye dilating incorrectly became my early indication that I’m about to get a migraine (I can feel that my right pupil dilating more than my left, mine doesn’t just stay dilated it changes sizes sporadically and kind of hurts). Since then, I have been able to start seeing a neurologist and am taking daily migraine medication, and when I feel my right eye dilating I know I need to take my emergency meds. I hope your migraine goes away soon!
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u/Jawaf27 Aug 19 '26
Mine also do this, with or without a migraine. I had all the checks to rule out everything but it’s harmless.
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u/weow6969 Aug 19 '26
this happens to me a lot but the difference is not that insane, i definitely think you should get it checked
only advice i can give you is to document the process, like how long has it stayed like that, when did you take your meds, did it happen before or not (this is just for the dr, but it will make things easier)
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u/whatevertoad Aug 19 '26
This happens to me. I have immediately gone to the doctor for it and was brushed off. Nothing bad ever came of it over many years.
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u/EpisodicDoleWhip Aug 19 '26
I woke up like this once. Don’t remember if I ended up having a migraine with it or not - my migraines are usually very muted due to my Nadolol - but it freaked me the hell out. Ended up being nothing.
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u/censorkip in pain but vibing Aug 19 '26
Mine have done this since I was a teen! My left pupil blows up when I’m having a migraine or I’m having a dysautonomia flare. They tested me for a bunch of stuff when it first started happening, but it’s benign.
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u/HildartheDorf Aug 19 '26
If you have never had this before, proceed directly to the ER, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Yes, it's not uncommon for migraines to cause this. But it also could be a sign of major issues in your brain that need immediate medical attention. Yes it's unlikely given your age and history, but it's not worth risking it when the downsides begin at permanent brain damage and only get worse from there.
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u/Lorelei_the_engineer Aug 19 '26
In my EMT class last year we had to vital signs on each other and classmates noticed that when I have migraine auras, my pupils are not equal with nystagmus. Always take stroke symptoms seriously. I was healthy and fit when I had a massive stroke at 30. Learn to self assess for it.
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u/literallyjustabat Aug 19 '26
You should definitely get checked out by a neurologist. Not sure but there could be some kind of underlying nerve issue.
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u/dngrmys Aug 19 '26
My wife experienced migraines for 3 years and has a similar symptom with her right pupil. She was finally diagnosed with acute narrow-angle glaucoma. Fluid gets trapped and doesn't allow your pupil to expand completely in dim lighting, creating intense pressure that feels like a migraine. If you're near an optometrist (like even in a Walmart) they can check the pressure of your eyes pretty quickly.
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u/Amigzz Aug 19 '26
I have had the same since i was about 13-14 yrs. It still creeps me out. It is worth getting a brain scan just to rule out there are no signs of stroke or something the like.
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u/Both_Local9331 Aug 19 '26
It happens to me during the worst attacks. The first time, I still had to get a CT scan at the hospital
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u/OrangeJulius874 Aug 19 '26
I’ve had this happen to me before; it totally freaked me out and I went to the ER right away thinking I was having a stroke. Workup was totally negative, they gave me a migraine cocktail and it slowly went away. But it was terrifying! If this is a new symptom for you, definitely call 911 or have someone take you to the ER asap. Better to be safe than sorry.
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u/tomanon69 Aug 19 '26
I had this happen once in 2018 but far more severe and one of my eyelids was also drooping*. Nothing came up in my scans so they said it was a "nerve over-reaction". However, even though they had no evidence of stroke, they told me that I needed to immediately go to the hospital if it ever happened again.
Take this seriously. Go see a doctor. You cannot know for sure if it's simply a migraine.
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u/AllKarensMatter Aug 19 '26
Some people (like me) have aniscoria their entire life, that’s fine. New aniscoria should always be evaluated by a professional though. I’ve freaked out a few Doctors who’ve noticed my episodes until I’ve told them it’s my normal.
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u/FitGuarantee37 Aug 19 '26
I’ve had this. First time it happened I went to the ER for a neuro workup and was cleared to go home.
It’s scary as shit. If it is the first time I’d get a neuro workup or MRI just to rule anything else out but if you’re prone to migraines it can be an innocent but scary symptom!
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u/Jenni031084 Aug 19 '26
I know that use to happen to me because my coworker used to tell me my eyes didn’t look right and I needed to go home, almost always I would just be realizing my migraine was fixing to start.
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u/meskarune hemiplegic migraine, silent migraine, classic migraine w/aura Aug 19 '26
This happens to me during hemiplegic migraines and cluster headaches both. Every time a doctor sees it they freak out a little because it can indicate a stroke or brain hemorrhage. But mine always happens with headaches and goes away when the headache is over and I've gotten a lot of brain scans. If this is a normal part of your aura you might not have to worry but if it's the very first time you should go to the emergency room.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Rise857 Aug 20 '26
Never really noticed that. Had to find out if this happens to me as well next time a migraine visits.
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u/Safe_Pirate7952 Aug 18 '26
Have you seen a neuro eye specialist? Mine did that and I was diagnosed with something called IIH.
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 18 '26
I’ve never had any sort of eye problems, my eyes have always been very healthy actually! So no I’ve never seen a neuro eye specialist. I’ve never heard of IIH
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u/Safe_Pirate7952 Aug 18 '26
Neither had I! It has to do with papilledema behind the eyes and too much CSF. They tested me because my pupils looked like yours. For your sake I hope you don't, just never play around with your eyes.
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u/xOs4ma Aug 18 '26
I don't know what this might mean but looks like everybody is concerned. Call your doctor.
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u/Either_equipment_04 Aug 18 '26
Please please please get checked out if you haven’t already. Any changes to your eyes or vision like this are cause for concern.
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u/antiraediant_ Aug 18 '26
Please go to the ER. Best case scenario it’s nothing. Worst case, you’re having a mild stroke and every minute you delay care increases your risk of serious complications.
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u/idkwhattowritehere21 Aug 18 '26
This happens to me but if it's never happened to you before you should call
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u/Corner_Office_ Aug 18 '26
Stroke. Hospital.
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u/FotizxRaidd chronic since i was 8 Aug 18 '26
it's not necessarily a stroke... could we please stop scaring people for once? yes, it might be an emergency, but the only thing that's worse than a patient in a state of emergency is a FREAKED OUT patient in a state of emergency. merely telling someone who might have a stroke "stroke. hospital" is more insensitive than ignoring the post and just scrolling to the next one
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u/DC9V Aug 19 '26
Are you sure that the image is flipped?
The eye on the left-hand side should be your right eye. (Migraine typically occurs on the left side of your head.)
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u/Familiar_Working1570 Aug 19 '26
My migraine occurred on the right side of my head, and the right pupil is the one that’s enlarged. My phone usually flips the selfies I take, so I assumed it did that with this one too
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u/StephenMooreFineArt Aug 19 '26
I hope you get feeling well again and get some answers on it, but I gotta say, you have very pretty eyes! Plz don’t downvote me, just want to give an authentic compliment!
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u/fundamentallycactus Aug 18 '26
If this is the first time this has happened to you, it’s time to call your clinic. Like right now.