What does PERRLA mean in PHYSIOLOGY

Pupils Equally Round and Reactive to Light and Accommodation (PERRLA) is an acronym used by health professionals to describe the normal reaction of the pupils when exposed to light or when focused on an object.

Abnormal pupil reactions may indicate a serious medical issue, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, or a tumor. Other issues that could result in abnormal pupil reactions include eye infection, intraocular pressure, optic nerve damage, glaucoma, or partial loss of vision.

To determine if pupils are equally round and reactive to light and accommodation, healthcare professionals use a penlight to assess the pupil size in both eyes. They also assess how well the eyes respond to light by testing each one independently with a bright light source and measuring the constriction speed both eyes have when looking at objects at different distances.

If you're concerned about your child's pupil reaction, it's important to seek medical attention from your healthcare provider as soon as possible for further assessment. Your doctor may recommend additional testing such as imaging studies or blood work depending on your symptoms.

Generally speaking, both pupils should be approximately the same size in order for someone's eyes to be considered healthy according to PERRLA standards. If there is a difference in size between the two pupils then this may indicate an underlying medical condition which requires further evaluation by a health care professional.