To test the corneal reflex of a patient's right eye, you would ask him to open his eyes and look away from you, and then
a. lightly brush the conjunctiva with a cotton-tipped applicator.
b. place one drop of warmed sterile saline into his eye.
c. shine a bright light onto the cornea from the side.
d. lightly stroke the cornea with a slightly moistened cotton wisp.
D
Sensation to the cornea is supplied by the trigeminal nerve (CN V). The corneal reflex should not be routinely assessed in conscious patients, unless there is a clinical suspicion of trauma to CN V or CN VII. Ask the patient to open the eyes and look away from you. Approach the patient out of the line of vision to eliminate the blink reflex. Lightly stroke the cornea with a slightly moistened cotton wisp. Observe for bilateral blinking of the eyes. Repeat for the other eye. Stroke the cornea (avoid contact with the sclera or eyelashes) to test for the corneal reflex. An alternative technique is to instill normal saline drops (not warmed). Light is not indicated to test the corneal reflex.
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