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Entrance pupil size predicts retinal illumination in darkly pigmented eyes, but not lightly pigmented eyes
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Entrance pupil size predicts retinal illumination in darkly pigmented eyes, but not lightly pigmented eyes

Randy H Kardon, Sungpyo Hong and Aki Kawasaki
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, Vol.54(8), pp.5559-5567
08/15/2013
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-12319
PMID: 23882686

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Abstract

We determined the effect of entrance pupil size on retinal illumination. The influence of unilateral miosis on the magnitude of the pupil light reflex was studied to ascertain how a clinically significant anisocoria influences the relative afferent pupil defect (RAPD). Miosis was induced by topical 1% pilocarpine in the right eye of 14 healthy subjects with normal eyes. The interocular difference in retinal illumination was assessed by computerized pupillometry from the stimulus response curve of the right and left eyes. The main outcome measure was the RAPD, determined by computerized pupillography, at baseline and after pilocarpine-induced anisocoria. Induced anisocoria produced a significant change in RAPD from baseline (mean = 1.60 dB in the miotic eye, P = 0.007). However, anisocoria correlated with RAPD only in subjects with darkly pigmented irides (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.793, P = 0.05). In darkly pigmented eyes, entrance pupil size significantly influenced the retinal illumination. However, retinal illumination of lightly pigmented eyes is relatively independent of entrance pupil size, presumably due to extrapupillary transmission of light through the iris and sclera. This has important implications in understanding the potential influence of anisocoria on the RAPD and also greater susceptibility of lightly pigmented eyes to light toxicity.
Pigment Epithelium of Eye - radiation effects Pupil - physiology Reflex, Pupillary - radiation effects Humans Pigment Epithelium of Eye - physiology Male Reference Values Photic Stimulation - methods Light Lighting Adult Female Eye Color - radiation effects

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