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Diagnosis: Oculocardiac Reflex

Lab Animal volume 33, pages 24–25 (2004)Cite this article

The oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is a variant of the trigeminocardiac reflex and researchers have described it in a variety of species, including humans, dogs, horses, and a cockatiel1,2,3,4,5,6. In humans, anesthesiologists describe it as a parasympathetic reflex initiated by manipulation of the eye or adnexa that results in bradycardia, arterial hypotension, hypoxia, and/or gastric hypomotility7. The reversal of vagal signs with cessation of manipulations, followed by recurrence when manipulations are resumed, is considered diagnostic for OCR8. Reports from the human medical literature have shown that various stimuli (e.g., blepharoplasty, cataract surgery, insertion of contact lenses9,10,11) may cause weakness, vomiting, syncope, and/or asystole.

Compression or traction of the globe or adnexa creates a stimulus that travels via the trigeminal nerve (afferent arm) to the vagus nerve (efferent arm). Vagal stimulation initiates a cascade of events: vasodilation, which leads to pooling of blood in capillary beds and hypotension; bradycardia; and apnea.

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Figure 1: Surgically prepared young male Long-Evans rat about to undergo corneal surgery with pulse oximeter probe attached to hind paw.
Figure 2: A researcher operating on the eye of a young rat.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 63, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, 77030, TX

    Katherine A. Naff DVM, Suzanne Craig DVM & Kenneth Gray DVM, MS

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  1. Katherine A. Naff DVM
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  2. Suzanne Craig DVM
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  3. Kenneth Gray DVM, MS
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Correspondence to Katherine A. Naff DVM.

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Naff, K., Craig, S. & Gray, K. Diagnosis: Oculocardiac Reflex. Lab Anim 33, 24–25 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0604-24

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