How a Pupil Examination Can Help Doctors Know What Happens in the Brain?
A pupil examination can have a huge impact on the health of patients, as the percent change in pupil size is essential for assessing the status of the nervous system. This post breaks down what a pupil examination is, how doctors can use it and explains how it helps in knowing what is happening in the brain.
What is a pupil exam? A pupil exam is a test performed by a doctor using a pupilometer in order to examine the size of the pupils and their reaction to light. Pupils are the black centers of your eyes, and their size varies depending on how light or dark it is. Under normal lighting conditions, a person's pupils are about 40 millimeters in diameter.
How Can a Pupil Examination Help to Know What Happens in the Brain? Pupil testing helps to gather information on a person's pupil dilation velocity and their neurological system and evaluate how much damage has been done to it. It's seen as a reliable diagnostic tool to check for neurological damage, as it involves the eyes. 1. Motor or reflex examination
The patient is asked to perform certain movements with their eyes, such as following a moving object with their eyes and turning their eyes inwards and outwards.
2. Coordination or gait examination The patient's walking is examined from the point of view of the level of coordination. They are asked to walk whilst following a moving pattern with their eyes. Other functions of the locomotor system can also be tested by seeing if the patient can walk a certain distance without falling. 3. General sensory examination The doctor will carry out a general sensory examination, which involves testing if the patient is able to feel light touch, deep pressure, vibration, and pinpricks on specific areas of the body. 4. Beyond visual field testing This test involves showing the patient a series of lights or pictures at the edge of their vision. The doctor will ask the patient to point to the light or picture. This allows the doctor to assess how the patient's visual field is affected.