The corneal reflex (or Tapma-Turk reflex) is one of the types of pupillary responses of the eye that occurs when the cornea is exposed. It is the contraction of the pupil in response to stimulation of receptors in the back of the cornea.
The corneal reflex occurs through the cranial tract, which begins in the cerebellum and ends in the neck muscles. This means that the reflex is a neural reflex connected to the brain.
When does the Corneal reflex begin to appear? In newborns, the reflex may appear already in the first months of life. It is one of the most important to study when examining an infant's eyes. However, in older children this reflex usually disappears. The reason for this is a decrease in the nerve connection between the brain and the limbs.
How does the Corneal reflex manifest itself during eye contact? If you adjust your newborn's eyelids well, you may see the baby's pupil constrict quickly when he looks at you. He demonstrates the corneal reflex. In adults, this reaction may be less pronounced or absent altogether.
Perhaps the reflex can also be used to diagnose vision problems. If the patient has a lack of image depth, he may not show this response. This is because the receptors in the back of the eyeball that send information to the brain have a limited range.
What problems may be associated with the corneal reflex? Some common problems with corneal reaction include:
1. Slowness of reaction - if your reaction time is slow, it may mean that you have nearsightedness or astigmatism. 2. Constant contraction of the pupil: If the pupil contracts constantly, you may have glaucoma. 3. Loss or distortion of vision - when the corneal reflex is absent, you are unable to see fully. 4. Seizures Unfortunately, the corneal reflexes are also often involved in seizure episodes. 5. Drop of the pupil - if the pupil drops from top to bottom, you may have a cataract. 6. Impairments in color vision - impairments in color perception are associated with a defect in the macula or retina. Color vision is checked precisely by the corneal reflex. 7. Acute attacks of headache - the corneal reflex can increase blood pressure and cause attacks of severe headache. 8. Memory impairment. Sometimes the corneal reflex can be associated with memory impairment, attention problems and psychomotor diseases such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. 9. Central nervous system (CNS) lesions such as multiple sclerosis - root reflexes may worsen due to CNS damage. 10. Systemic diseases - systemic diseases can simultaneously weaken all reflexes, including corneal ones.