The corneal reflex, also known as the blink reflex, is an involuntary blinking of the eyelids elicited by stimulation (such as touching or a foreign body) of the cornea, or bright light, though could result from any peripheral stimulus. Stimulation should elicit both a direct and consensual response (response of the opposite eye). The reflex consumes a rapid rate of 0.1 second. The evolutionary purpose of this reflex is to protect the eyes from foreign bodies and bright lights. The blink reflex also occurs when sounds greater than 40-60 dB[1].
the 7th cranial nerve (facial nerve) initiating the motor response.
possibly mediated by a medullary center.
Use of contact lenses may diminish or abolish this reflex.
The optical reflex, on the other hand, is slower and is mediated by the cortex (outer covering) of the occipital real lobe of the brain. The reflex is absent in infants under 9 months.
The examination of the corneal reflex is a part of some neurological exams, particularly when evaluating coma. Damage to the ophthalmic branch (V1) of the 5th cranial nerve results in absent corneal reflex when the affected eye is stimulated. Stimulation of one cornea normally has a consensual response, with both eyelids normally closing.
^ Garde, M.M., & Cowey, A. (2000). "Deaf hearing": Unacknowledged detection of auditory stimuli in a patient with cerebral deafness. Cortex 36(1), 71-80
