ByPeople who are involved in head injuries are at risk of suffering damage to the brain. In this case, a quick medical intervention is needed to save their lives. Rather than opening the head to assess the brain condition, the doctor relies on pupil measurement to do this. This is a simple but highly accurate way to check if a patient has suffered any injuries to the brain.
How pupil measurement is done
The doctor uses a special device to measure the reaction of the pupil in the presence of light. This examination is effective for the doctor to detect the presence of injuries to the brain. The doctor does this by checking the eyes of the patient after they have been in an accident. This procedure is possible because of the way the pupils react when the brain has suffered an injury. The pupillary response in traumatic brain injury is recorded and evaluated further for effective diagnosis. Doctors once relied on traditional methods to measure this pupil’s reaction. These days, there are more advanced methods to measure the response of the pupils when the brain suffers an injury.
Traditional Pupillary Evaluation Methods
With traditional methods, doctors usually rely on the flashlight for pupil measurement. The flashlight is used to check the reaction of the pupils. During the process, they check for the following pupil reactions:
- Constriction: This happens when the pupils become smaller
- Dilation: In this case, the pupils become bigger.
- Pupil reaction speed: This is used to measure the rate at which the size of the pupils changes.
Under this scenario, the doctors rely on their eyes to judge whether or not the pupil has a normal reaction. The traditional evaluation method is simple and quick. But advanced clinical researchers say that it is highly subjective – which means that it depends on the opinions of the doctor. This makes it unreliable and old.
The NPI Pupillometer
• The NPI pupillometer is the leading neurological tool used in modern pupillary evaluation. NPI is short for neurological pupil index – which is another way of saying that the tool measures brain health by examining the pupils. The pupillometer is similar to the flashlight test but produces a more scientific and precise result. Unlike the traditional method that relies on the doctor’s judgment, pupillometers come with sensors. When the light is shone, the sensors measure the following:
• The accurate size of the pupil
• The reaction time of the response of the pupil to the light source
• The consistent reaction of the pupil to the light source.
The device then works to produce a score known as the NPI – which is used to inform the doctor whether or not the pupil reaction is normal. The scores are obtained from accurate measurements and help doctors make better decisions for improved patient outcomes.
The traditional method versus the NPI pupillometer
When compared concerning clinical applications, this is how both methods help doctors:
Accuracy
The traditional method relies on the experience and opinions of the doctor, which is not helpful. The NPI pupillometer is among the latest neurological tools that doctors rely on for accurate pupil measurement. This is because of their sophisticated sensors that detect even the most subtle motions of the pupil – which are usually impossible to detect with bare eyes.
Consistency
Results obtained from the traditional method tend to change based on the doctors and clinical conditions. However, the NPI pupillometer gives the same precise results at all times regardless of who uses the tool.
Usefulness in critical situations
Doctors find it hard to rely on the traditional method in cases like a neuro exam. Instead, they use the NPI pupillometer because of its ability to measure hidden pupil motions.
Why is the NPI pupillometer important?
The NPI pupillometer is important because it provides an accurate interpretation of the brain’s conditions in the following:
• Helps to assess the condition of the brain in the case of head injuries
• Helps to monitor the condition of the brain during operations
• Used during emergencies where it is crucial to monitor the brain condition every step of the way.
In the final analysis, many health centres currently rely on traditional pupillary evaluation methods. However, clinics that rely on the NPI pupillometer get more reliable, consistent, and accurate readings. This more that they are more precise on the brain function – which leads to effective treatments for far more desirable outcomes. The advanced neurological tool is one good example of how technology has improved medical care – which means that doctors are empowered more to save the lives of patients.
