NREMT Paramedic

Answer: A - If you are assessing a patient and their pupils do not react equally to light it is an indication that they have suffered a head injury or other neurologic compromise, such as aneurism or stroke. Pupils that react differently to light is a condition called anisocoria and is a significant finding because the pupillary diameter is controlled by both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves fibers coming directly from the brain. Some people exhibit this syndrome normally, and examining an unconscious, unknown patient with one glass eye can also lead to a mistaken finding of abnormal pupillary response. Always put your findings together with your full assessment and history of your patient.