During a pre-hospital assessment, you examine a patient's pupil responses. The right pupil is 6 mm and non-reactive, while the left pupil is 3 mm and ...

Question

During a pre-hospital assessment, you examine a patient's pupil responses. The right pupil is 6 mm and non-reactive, while the left pupil is 3 mm and reactive. There is a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) on the right. What does an RAPD specifically indicate?

Accepted Answer

A lesion of the right optic nerve or significant right retinal pathology - the afferent limb of the pupillary light reflex is damaged

Answer

A right Horner's syndrome

Answer

Normal variation in pupil size (anisocoria)

Answer

A brainstem lesion affecting the right Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Answer

A right CN III palsy

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect

During a pre-hospital assessment, you examine a patient's pupil responses. The right pupil is 6 mm and non-reactive, while the left pupil is 3 mm and reactive. There is a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) on the right. What does an RAPD specifically indicate?