PhysRehab Ch. 5: pupillary testing/meanings

Question 1

pupils that are bilaterally small

Answer 1

indicative of damage to the sympathetic pathways in the hypothalamus or metabolic encephalopathy

Question 2

pinpoint pupils

Answer 2

suggestive of a hemorrhagic pontine lesion or narcotic overdose (e.g., morphine, heroin).

Question 3

Pupils that are fixed in mid-position and slightly dilated

Answer 3

suggestive of midbrain damage

Question 4

large bilaterally fixed and dilated pupils

Answer 4

severe anoxia or drug toxicity (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants)

Question 5

only one pupil is fixed and dilated

Answer 5

temporal lobe herniation with compression of the oculomotor nerve and midbrain is likely