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Miosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords:: Pupillary constriction; constricted pupil; miotis

Overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Miosis is a medical term for constriction of the pupil. It is the opposite of mydriasis. It is seen in a variety of medical conditions, and can also be caused by certain drugs and chemicals. Eye drops used to intentionally cause miosis are known as “miotics”. Extreme miosis is commonly called “pinpoint pupils”, a situation that can be caused by use of opiates.

Diagnosis

CT

Chest CT if Horner’s syndrome is found and to rule out apical lung mass

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Chest CT if Horner’s syndrome is found and to rule out apical lung mass

Primary Prevention

Remove problem causing medications

References

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Historical Perspective

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Classifications

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Pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Pathophysiology

Visual stimuli enters the eye,and through the retinal photoceptors is converted into an electric impulse, carried through the optic nerve (cranial nerve II) to the brain, where it connects to the pretectal nucleus of the high midbrain. It bypasses the lateral geniculate nucleus and the primary visual cortex. From the pretectal nucleus neurons send axons to neurons of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus whose visceromotor axons run along both the left and right oculomotor nerves. Visceromotor nerve axons (which constitute a portion of the III cranial nerve, along with the somatomotor portion derived from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus) synapse on ciliary ganglion neurons, whose parasympathetic axons innervate the constrictor muscle of the iris, producing miosis. [2]

References

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Causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.

Overview

Miosis is usually caused as a side effect from drugs intending to treat pain, as well as chemotherapy agents. Other common causes include various neurologic and ophthalmologic conditions.

Causes

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular Cerebrovascular arteriosclerosis, Corneal ulcer
Chemical/Poisoning Clonidine poisoning , Mustard gas, Nicotine, Phencyclidine poisoning, Tacrine toxicity
Dental No underlying causes
Dermatologic No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect Acetaminophen , Acetylcholine, Ambenonium, Camptothecin derivatives, Carbachol, Carbamates, Chemotherapy, Cholinergic agents, Codeine , Dapiprazole, Demerol, Diamorphine, Distigmine, Donepezil toxicity, Fentanyl, Haloperidol, Mao inhibitors, Methadone, Miostat, Miotics, Mirtazapine, Morphine, Muscarine, Naphazoline, Neostigmine, Olanzapine, Ondansetron, Opioid poisoning , Organophosphates, Oxycodone, Oxymetazoline, Parasympathomimetics, Pethidine, Phenoxybenzamine, Physostigmine, Pilocarpine , Pyridostigmine, Quetiapine, Tetrahydazoline, Thorazine, Tramadol, Trazodone
Ear Nose Throat No underlying causes
Endocrine No underlying causes
Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic No underlying causes
Genetic Hereditary disorders, Hereditary sensorimotor neuropathy type 3, Stormorken syndrome
Hematologic Hyphema, Intracranial hemorrhage, Pontine hemorrhage
Iatrogenic No underlying causes
Infectious Disease Acute iritis, Iridocyclitis, Iritis, Tertiary syphillis, Uveitis
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic No underlying causes
Neurologic Adie’s pupil , Argyll robertson pupils, Cerebrovascular arteriosclerosis, Cluster headache, Coma, Fatal familial insomnia, Horner’s syndrome, Intracranial hemorrhage, Lateral medullary syndrome, Migraine, Neuropathy, Raeder paratrigeminal syndrome, Stormorken syndrome, Wallenberg’s syndrome
Nutritional/Metabolic No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic No underlying causes
Oncologic Pancoast tumor
Ophthalmologic Acute iritis, Adie’s pupil , Anisocoria, Argyll robertson pupils, Corneal foreign body, Corneal ulcer, Horner’s syndrome, Hyphema, Iridocyclitis, Iritis, Lateral medullary syndrome, Posterior iris synechiae, Raeder paratrigeminal syndrome, Uveitis
Overdose/Toxicity Heroin
Psychiatric No underlying causes
Pulmonary No underlying causes
Renal/Electrolyte No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy Parry-romberg syndrome
Sexual Tertiary syphillis
Trauma No underlying causes
Urologic No underlying causes
Miscellaneous No underlying causes

Causes in Alphabetical Order

References

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Differentiating Miosis from other Disorders

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Epidemiology and Demographics

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Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

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Diagnosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | X Rays | CT | MRI | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Surgical | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case #1


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