Pupillary constriction during forceful eyelid closure.

Pupillary constriction during forceful eyelid closure was investigated in 30 normal subjects. The right eye of each subject was filmed with an infrared-sensitive television camera in darkness before, during, and after eyelid closure. Clinically detectable constrictions were found in nine of the 30 subjects (30%). No significant correlation was found between amplitude of constriction and age of subject or baseline pupillary diameter. Forceful eyelid closure should be considered as a technique to elicit pupillary constriction in patients with a poor near response, but many subjects will have no detectable constriction using this maneuver.