The afferent pupillary defect

Examination of the pupils is an essential component of both the neurologic and ocular evaluation of a child in the acute care setting. The manifestation of an afferent pupillary defect has significant clinical implications for diagnosis and management. Correctly assessing the pupils for an afferent defect is an important clinical skill for the pediatric emergency physician. An appreciation of the anatomy and understanding of the mechanisms involved in abnormal pupil responses, knowledge of the proper technique of the swinging flashlight test, and an awareness of potential pitfalls in performing this test will aid the physician in the detection of an afferent pupillary defect.