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Will The Eye Of A Person With Macular Degeneration Have Proper Response To Light?

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Posted on Mon, 12 Oct 2015
Question: I am wondering when checking someone who has macular degeneration, would they have the proper response as the other eye to light when checking PEARL
doctor
Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It is usually normal.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HealthCareMagic.com

Pupillary response is a physiological response which can elicit and help in diagnosing defects of the visual pathway.

Though not confirmatory, a defective pupillary response always reflects an underlying pathology.

For diagnosing neuro ophthalmological and neurological condition pupillary response should be checked carefully.

Now coming to your question. The pupillary response is normal in mild to moderate cases of ARMD.

But on swinging torch light test we can ellicit a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD).

For swinging torch light test we have to take a torch and swing it from one eye to other and notice the pupillary response.

The normal response is constriction on the pupil the light is thrown along with consensual constriction of the other eye.

In case of RAPD the affected pupil dilates.

It denotes an underlying pathology of the Optic nerve.

And as I said it can be seen in case of severe age related macular degeneration.

Please get back to us if you have further queries.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. N K Mishra

Ophthalmologist

Practicing since :1977

Answered : 1297 Questions

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Will The Eye Of A Person With Macular Degeneration Have Proper Response To Light?

Brief Answer: It is usually normal. Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to HealthCareMagic.com Pupillary response is a physiological response which can elicit and help in diagnosing defects of the visual pathway. Though not confirmatory, a defective pupillary response always reflects an underlying pathology. For diagnosing neuro ophthalmological and neurological condition pupillary response should be checked carefully. Now coming to your question. The pupillary response is normal in mild to moderate cases of ARMD. But on swinging torch light test we can ellicit a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). For swinging torch light test we have to take a torch and swing it from one eye to other and notice the pupillary response. The normal response is constriction on the pupil the light is thrown along with consensual constriction of the other eye. In case of RAPD the affected pupil dilates. It denotes an underlying pathology of the Optic nerve. And as I said it can be seen in case of severe age related macular degeneration. Please get back to us if you have further queries. Regards,