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Pupil
light reflexes (Hirschberg and Krimsky Tests)
Both
of these tests are performed by simply shining a bright light into the
patient’s eyes and looking at the light in the pupils. When there are no
alignment problems, the light reflection will be in approximately the same
position in both pupils. However, if the patient has strabismus, the light
will appear off-center in the crossed eye. This test is especially useful
when examining young children.
Parents
can quickly screen their children at home with this test. Shine a bright
light at the child’s eyes while standing about 6 feet away. Is the light
reflex positioned equally in the child’s pupils? If the light falls in a
different spot in one pupil compared to the other, consult with an
ophthalmologist. Beware however, that some eye turns are very subtle and
may only be detected by an eye care professional.
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