doll’s-eye reflex, a normal response in newborns to keep the eyes stationary as the head is moved to the right or left. The reflex disappears as ocular fixation develops. It is also evaluated in comatose children for assessment of cranial nerve (III, IV, VI) function. In adults, it is used to evaluate brainstem function in a comatose patient. After determining the absence of cervical injury, the examiner quickly moves the head to the side. The eyes should deviate in the direction opposite to the head’s movement; loss of this reflex suggests dysfunction of brainstem or oculomotor nerves; inferolateral deviation of the eyes in combination with pupillary dilation implies dysfunction of the third cranial nerve, possibly due to tentorial herniation See also doll’s head maneuver.
