There are some disorders in the whole wide world, which affects the pupil of the eyes as well as the autonomic nervous system. One of which is the Adie syndrome. The Adie syndrome is a rare condition that causes discomfort and a hell of a problem to many people. This article will tell you about the causes, symptoms, as well as the treatments for Adie syndrome. If you want to know more about it, feel free to give this article a read.
What is Adie Syndrome?
The Adie syndrome is actually a neurological condition that is often characterized by the tonically enlarged pupil of the eyes. This reacts gradually to light sources. However, it displays a more certain response to space, for instance, light near dissociation. Furthermore, the condition is frequent to happen in women who have ankle jerks or absent knee, as well as impaired sweating.
The term Adie syndrome actually comes from William John Adie a British neurologist. The condition mainly comes from a certain damage in the parasympathetic innervation of the eye’s postganglionic fibers. This is usually due to a bacterial or viral infection that causes inflammation. This may affect the pupil as well as the autonomic nervous system.
Adie syndrome is actually the term that is used when both of the pupil and the deep reflexes of tendons are affected already. When the pupil is the only ones that get affected, the condition may be referred to as the Adie’s pupil. Some of the cases of the condition may result in trauma, lack of blood flow, infection, or even surgery.
The treatments for Adie syndrome may not be that necessary. Eyeglasses as well as eye drops may help when the treatment is already required. Adie syndrome is not that progressive, nor is it a life-threatening or even disabling.
Some other terms that denote Adie syndrome include:
- Papillotonic Pseudorabies
- Holmes-Adie Syndrome
- Adie’s syndrome
- Tonic Pupil Syndrome
- Adie’s tonic pupil
- Adie’s pupil
Symptoms of the Adie’s Syndrome
The Adie syndrome is a rare condition which commonly affects the pupil of either one or both of the eyes. Commonly, the pupil constricts in the presence of a bright light, as well as in focusing on nearing objects. Furthermore, typically, the pupil contracts in the dim or dark light, or even when focusing on far objects. In the Adie syndrome, the normal reaction of the eyes to the darkness as well as in the light does not really happen.
Majority of those who have the condition has larger pupil and it does not constrict very much or at all in response to the light stimulation. Moreover, most of the people with Adie syndrome have absent or poor reflexes too. Some other symptoms of those who have the condition include:
- Emotional fluctuations
- Blurry vision
- Facial pain
- A headache
- Photophobia
- Difficulty in reading
- Hyperopia
Causes of Adie Syndrome
Even though the exact cause of the condition is not yet known, it is believed to be inherited as one of the autosomal prevailing traits. The human traits, to include in the genetic diseases are actually the product of the interactions of two genes. The one is received from the father, and the other is from the mother. In the dominant disorders, there is a single cope with the disease that is expressed to be dominating, while the other one that’s usual and then results in the development of the condition.
The risk of spreading the condition from parents who are affected by it is about 50% in each of the pregnancy. This is in spite of the gender of the child. The Adie syndrome happens in both men and women, yet, as stated earlier, it is more common to women in the age of 25 to 45.
Treatments for Adie Syndrome
The diagnosis of the Adie syndrome may actually be achieved by the use of dilute pilocarpine, which is a drug that comes in the form of eye drops. The dilute pilocarpine is one of the best treatments for Adie syndrome. It helps in testing the reaction of the pupil to light. The pupil of the eyes when you have Adie syndrome does not constrict in the response to light, thus constricting the response to the dilute pilocarpine. Some other treatments for Adie syndrome include:
- Glasses: these might be prescribed to be able to correct the blurred vision. Furthermore, therapy with the use of dilute pilocarpine may also help in improving the poor depth perception to some people.
- Genetic counseling: this can be beneficial for parents as well as family members. This is since other treatments for Adie syndrome are supportive and symptomatic.
It is best to consult a doctor for your condition. Do not just conclude about it. Also, don’t use dilute pilocarpine excessively because it may just add to the harm of the condition. So if you have the symptoms of the condition already, got your doctor and have your eyes checked.
