title: Studying the effect of iris mechanics on the pupillary light reflex using brimonidine-induced anisocoria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study and correct for the limiting effect of iris mechanics on the amplitude of light-evoked pupil contractions in order to derive a more clinically accurate assessment of afferent input to the visual system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transient pupil responses were recorded to a series of 1-second red Ganzfeld light stimuli with a stepwise increase in stimulus intensity using a binocular infrared computerized pupillometer. One eye of eight healthy subjects was treated with 0.2% brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution to induce pupil size reduction. The amount of pupil contraction as a function of stimulus intensity was compared between the brimonidine-treated, miotic eye and the untreated eye.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BRIMONIDINE TREATMENT PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN PUPIL SIZE IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS (MEAN REDUCTION IN PUPIL SIZE: 1.78 ± 0.35 mm, P < 0.05). For increasing light intensity, the treated pupil started to show reduced pupil contractions compared with the contralateral untreated pupil when the peak of pupil contraction reached an average pupil size of 3.25 ± 0.61 mm (range, 2.38-4.44 mm). When measured by percent pupil contraction (contraction amplitude/baseline pupil diameter), the pupil response as a function of stimulus intensity in the treated, miotic eye did not differ from that in the untreated eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iris mechanics limits the amount of pupil contraction and can act to reduce the assessed neuronal integration of the pupil light reflex. Pupil response assessed by using percent contraction amplitude is least affected by mechanical effects and provides a more accurate approximation of afferent input.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. ychen@ophth.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Randy H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kardon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015875:Anisocoria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011810:Quinoxalines; D013565:Sympatholytics; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate