sofidexFor patientsAre you a clinician? Clinical site

Warning-sign checks

Heterochromia: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek urgent or emergency care for:

    • Sudden loss or marked reduction of vision
    • Severe eye pain, especially with redness, nausea, or headache
    • A chemical splash or penetrating eye injury
    • A colour change after significant eye or head trauma
    • A new drooping eyelid or unequal pupils with weakness, confusion, or severe headache
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact an eye care service promptly if a colour change occurs with ongoing redness, mild eye pain, sensitivity to light, new floaters, or gradual visual change.

    These symptoms can occur with inflammation or other treatable eye conditions.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine eye examination if heterochromia is newly noticed, has not been assessed before, or appears to be changing.

    A child with a persistent colour difference should have the eyes checked, particularly if there is hearing loss, a drooping eyelid, unequal pupils, or unusual hair or skin pigmentation.

The article also says

A stable colour difference without pain or vision change is not usually an emergency.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Heterochromia. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.