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Which of the following statements regarding anisocoria is correct?

a) Physiologic anisocoria indicates significant intracranial pressure
b) Anisocoria is a condition characterized by bilateral pupillary dilation
c) Anisocoria is a normal finding in the majority of the population
d) Anisocoria is a condition in which the pupils are unequal

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Anisocoria is a condition characterized by unequal pupil sizes. While physiologic anisocoria is benign and does not indicate significant intracranial pressure, it must be distinguished from other conditions such as glaucoma and visual field deficits like bilateral hemianopia. The pupillary light reflex is an autonomic response causing bilateral pupil constriction in response to light.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement regarding anisocoria is (d) Anisocoria is a condition in which the pupils are unequal. Anisocoria can be a benign condition or indicate a medical emergency depending on the cause.

Physiologic anisocoria, which is found in a small percentage of the population, does not indicate significant intracranial pressure. Instead, it is a harmless condition where there is a slight difference in pupil size between the eyes that is constant and does not signify an underlying health issue.

Anisocoria should not be confused with conditions affecting eye pressure, such as glaucoma, or visual field deficits, such as bilateral hemianopia. The latter is caused by a lesion at the optic chiasm, usually due to a pituitary gland growth and is not directly related to pupil size differences.

The pupillary light reflex is a specific reaction within the eye where the pupil size adjusts in response to light intensity. Bright light results in pupil constriction through the parasympathetic response to protect the retina from excessive light. If one eye is stimulated with light, both pupils will contract, demonstrating a bilateral response originating from the optic nerve's sensory input and the oculomotor nerve's motor response.

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