Corneal Reflex Test.

Definition.
Also known as the blink reflex, is an involuntary blinking of the eyelids elicited by stimulation of the cornea (such as by touching or by a foreign body), or bright light, though could result from any peripheral stimulus. Stimulation should elicit both a direct and consensual response (response of the opposite eye). The reflex consumes a rapid rate of 0.1 second. The evolutionary purpose of this reflex is to protect the eyes from foreign bodies and bright lights (the latter known as the optical reflex).[1] The blink reflex also occurs when sounds greater than 40-60 dB are made.

Purpose.
Reflex tests measure the presence and strength of a number of reflexes. In so doing, they help to assess the integrity of the nerve circuits involved.

Related Disease.
Acoustic neuroma. Bell's palsy. Brain stem infarction or injury.

Corneal Light Reflex.

Definition.
The pupillary light reflex is a reflex that controls the diameter of the pupil, in response to the intensity (luminance) of light that falls on the retina of the eye, thereby assisting in adaptation to various levels of darkness and light, in addition to retinal sensitivity. Greater intensity light causes the pupil to become smaller (allowing less light in), whereas lower intensity light causes the pupil to become larger (allowing more light in). Thus, the pupillary light reflex regulates the intensity of light entering the eye.

Purpose.
Reflex tests are performed as part of a neurological exam, either a "mini-exam" done to quickly confirm integrity of the spinal cord, or a more complete exam.

Related Disease.
Guillain-Barre syndrome Herpetic keratoconjunctivits Trigeminal neuralgia Premature birth

Ocular Motility Test.

Definition.
The ocular motility subspecialty examines impairment of eye movements resulting from malfunction of the sensory-motor mechanism of the eye which leads to faulty alignment of the eyes and/or visual impairment. Disease may affect the oculomotor (CNIII), trochlear (CNIV) and abducens (CNVI) nerves directly, the brainstem nuclei corresponding to the nerve, or produced by dysfunction of higher order sensory and motor systems.

Purpose.
Performed to diagnose the presence and location of spinal cord injury or neuromuscular disease.

Related Disease.
The ocular motility defects seen are defined by their abnormality of movement such as esotropia, esophoria, exotropia, exophoria, hypertropia, hypotropia, or often by eponymous names such as Duane's or Brown's.