PERRLA / Eye assessment of INFANT???

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Perhaps one of you peds nurses can help me out here, as I cannot find this info ANYWHERE - textbooks or internet.

How is a typical pupillary asssessment on an infant (i.e. birth - 6 mos) performed? Knowing that it will be only PERRL, because accomadation has not developed yet, what is considered normal reaction (i.e. pupil diameter)?

What age do you begin to test for ocular movements?

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Specializes in pediatric and geriatric.

i looked in a book i have called current pediatric diagnosis and treatment by lange and it says newborns should be checked for extraocular movements, the iris should be inspected for abnormalities, cornea should be observed because cloudy corneas could indicate a problem. I couln't find anything about PERRLA assess. in this book either for an infant. I hope someone responds cause i would like to know the answer to this one. I work with older kids so I am not sure on this one.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Infants' eye assessments are not that different from anybody else's. In neonates their eyes should be examined BEFORE the erythro ointment is used because it can make it difficult to see pupillary response. Normal pupil diameters are the same for babies as it is for everybody. No assessment is needed for accommodation. Babies will fix their gaze on faces and objects by 2-3 weeks and will follow them around by about 2-3 months.

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