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Cranial nerve
Spinal nerve
Historical
Cranial nerve II - the Optic nerve
Signs and Symptoms of Lesions
Blind spots; tunnel vision and/or day
blindness, night blindness, color blindness.
Optic Nerve Test:
There are three steps in testing cranial
nerve II.
1. Visual
Acuity – For normal vision, use Snellen’s card test. For subnormal vision,
count and move fingers. For markedly subnormal cases, use light perception and
light projection. Standard reading cards are used for near vision.
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Optic nerve test 1
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2. Red Eye Reflex – Through the use of a
penlight or ophthalmoscope, the practitioner briefly shines a light into one of
the individual’s eyes, observing for pupil constriction. Should constriction
not occur, consider ophthalmic disorders or possible multiple sclerosis.
Perform bilaterally.
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Optic nerve test 2
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3.
Visual field-test – With the practitioner
sitting approximately 3 feet in front of the individual, the individual is
requested to close one eye. While the individual is staring at the
practitioner’s nose, the practitioner holds one hand beneath and out of view of
the individual. While flipping the index finger, or using a pen, the
practitioner gradually elevates their hand until the person states they see
it. Continuing to elevate the hand, the individual should remark exactly when
they lose sight of the finger outside their visual field. This technique should
be performed through vertical, horizontal and oblique planes while comparing
one eye’s visual field against the other.
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Optic nerve test 3
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Do not be surprised in
the performance of this test if individuals have blind spots (scotomas) or in
other words, they view the finger from the periphery and during motion they lose
sight of the finger only to regain sight of it before losing it again at the
other periphery. Central vision loss is common with conditions like Macular
Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa. Loss of peripheral vision is common in
Tunnel Vision or Tubular Vision.
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