light reflex
1
5.3
- noun
- /laɪt ˈriːflɛks/
- Specialized
- The doctor checked the patient's light reflex to assess their neurological function.
Examples
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During the eye examination, the light reflex showed that the pupils contracted appropriately to bright light.
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He's GCS6, with no light reflex.
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The light reflex is basically the same as you used previously.
Blog text (34) -
A weak light reflex can indicate potential issues with the optic nerve or brain function.
Synonyms
1
7.0
An automatic narrowing of the pupil in bright light or after some medicines
1
9.9
The pupil of the eye becomes smaller in bright light or after some drugs
The pupil becomes smaller because of bright light or some drugs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derivable from the parts: 'light' (brightness) + 'reflex' (automatic bodily response) clearly indicates an automatic response to light (e.g., pupil contraction). Although slightly technical/medical, the compositional logic is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would plausibly infer the meaning.
Etymology
Light reflex comes from what the eye does when bright light hits it: the pupil quickly makes itself smaller as a natural reflex, so the pupil 'gets smaller' to protect the eye. Doctors check this quick movement because a normal reflex shows the nerves and brain are working, so it helps them see if the eye and brain are healthy.