Pupillary pathways & reactions

Dr. C.R.Thirumalachar

• Pupillary constrictor/ spincter-innervated by parasympathetic

• Pupillary dilator – innervated by sympathetic

• Evaluation of pupil- Diagnostic clue to ocular, neurological, medical, surgical and paediatric diseases

Light reflex: Direct & Consensual – Afferent pathway

• Initiated by retinal photoreceptors• Transmitted along optic nerve• Undergo a hemidecussation at the optic chiasma

(nasal fibres cross over)• Proceeds along optic tract• Short of lateral geniculate body- enters midbrain

via sup. Brachium of sup. Colliculus• Synapses at pre- tectal nucleus • Ends in both Edinger westpal nucleui

• A second decussation occurs around aqueduct of sylvius

• Decussation at chiasma & midbrain level between pretectal nucleus & Edinger Westpal nucleus accounts for consensual light reflex

• E.W. nucleus (pupillo motor constrictor centre)

• Efferent fibres tract along 3rd nerve-nerve to inf. Obl.

• Enter the ciliary ganglion through its short motor root

• Synapse & relay at ciliary ganglion

• Post ganglionic fibres reach ciliary muscle and iris spincter through short ciliary nerves

Light Reflex

Near relex

• Accomodation reflex: • Stimulus : Blurring of retinal images when object

is near• Retina- Optic nerve – Optic chiasma- Optic tract-

Optic radiations- Lat geniculate body- visual cortex – cortical association areas- occipito mesencephalic tract- mid brain- E.W. nucleus- 3rd nerve- accessory ciliary ganglion along short ciliary nerves- ciliary muscle and pupil constrictor

Near reflex- convergence relex

• Co contraction of both medial recti• Proprioceptive impulses originate and travel

along 5th nerve• Reach mesencephalic root of 5th nerve• Transmitted to EWP nucleus in midbrain via

convergence centre (Perlias N)• From EWP efferent pathway same as

accomodation reflex

Accomodation Reflex

• Dilator pathway

• Hypothalamic dilator centre - part of sympathetic system

• Descends through brainstem to the spinal cord

• C8- T2 segments of spinal cord cilio spinal centre of Budge

• Emerge out of spinal cord – enter paravertebral symp chain & synapses sup cervical ganglion

• Symp plexus around carotid artery

• Enter cranial cavity along internal carotid artery

• Trigeminal ganglion – ophthalmic division – nasociliary nerve- long ciliary nerves- ciliary muscle and dilator pupillae

Sympathetic Pupillary system

Abnormal pupillary reactions

• RAPD• RAPD seen in optic nerve & retinal diseases with

extensive retinal damage , gross macular lesions.

• Accurate quantification of RAPD (using neutral density filters)– is accomplished by determination of the log unit difference needed to balance the pupil reaction between the 2 eyes

Marcus Gunn Pupil -When the contralateral/normal eye is covered, pupil on the

affected side dilates

-When the affected eye is covered pupil of the normal eye remains unaffected.

– Light is thrown on ipsilateral side(affected side);Ipsilateral direct reflex & contralateral consensual reflex- sluggish and ill sustained.

– Light thrown on contralateral side (normal side) direct & consensual (affected side) is normal & well sustained

-If light is kept persistently on affected side, pupil may show initial sluggish contraction but contraction is ill sustained & gradually shows paradoxical dilatation

-Indicates conduction defect along efferent pathway (Optic nerve, Optic chiasma, part of optic tract, dorsal mid brain )

• Argyll Robertson pupil(ARP)– Occurs in neurosyphilis, Tabesdorsalis,G.P.I.– Pupil is usually constricted ( involvement of

descending sympathetic dilator fibres)– Light reflex is absent– Accomodation reflex , near reflex retained – Site of lesion –Pretectal nucleus. (dorsal mid

brain)

• Horner’s syndrome : – Involvement of cervical sympathetic – Miosis, partial ptosis, enophthalmos & anhydrosis– Iris heterochromia

• Pourfour de Petit Syndrome– This syndrome is the clinical opposite of Horner

syndrome. It represents oculosympathetic overactivity

– unilateral mydriasis, lid retraction, apparent exophthalmos, and conjunctival blanching

– Seen after trauma, brachial plexus anesthetic block or other injury, and parotidectomy

• Hemianopic pupil ( wernicke’s pupil )– Seen in optic tract lesions with hemianopia– Stimulating the blind half of retina pupil shows no

reaction– Stimulating seeing half of retina pupil shows

reaction– Difficult to elicit – due to scattering & diffusion of

light – Use a narrow streak of light

Hutchinson’s pupil• Useful in assessment of head injuries

• Stage1 : Ipsilateral pupil (on the side of head injury shows contraction due to irritation, Contralateral (normal) pupil –normal

• Stage2 : Ipsilateral pupil shows dilatation due to paralysis , contralateral pupil constricts (irritation spreads to normal side)

• Stage3 : Both pupils dilate. Stage of bilateral paralysis. To assess pupil repeatedly is important, therefore mydriatics should be avoided in case of head injuries

• Adie’s tonic pupil: Characterised by – large unilaterally dilated pupil– Absent / poor light response – In near response , there is slow / tonic contraction

of the iris– May be associated with loss of deep tendon

reflexes (Adie’s syndrome) – Seen in young women

• Pupil in 3rd nerve palsy– Dilated– Non reactive– Absolute motor paralysis– Associated with ptosis, deviation of eyeball

• Pupil in diabetes– Constricted– Sluggishly reactive due to

• Glycogen infiltration of spincter• Autonomic denervation• Arteriosclerosis of radial iris vessels

Thank You