A patient is admitted to the hospital with facial trauma secondary to a motor vehicle accident. The advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) strokes the cornea of each eye with a cotton wisp to check for reflex blinking. What is the name of this reflex and what is the cranial nerve being assessed?

A. Cardinal reflex; CN IV & V is incorrect because there is no reflex termed “cardinal reflex” in clinical neuroassessment. CN IV (trochlear) controls superior oblique eye movement and is not involved in blinking. CN V (trigeminal) is partially involved in corneal sensation, but the reflex is paired with CN VII. B. Corneal reflex; CN V & VII is correct. The corneal reflex is elicited by gently touching the cornea with a cotton wisp, which should trigger bilateral blinking. This reflex assesses CN V (trigeminal nerve, ophthalmic branch) for sensory input from the cornea and CN VII (facial nerve) for motor output causing the orbicularis oculi muscle to blink. Testing the corneal reflex is particularly important in facial trauma, altered consciousness, or neurological deficits. C. Oculocephalic reflex; CN III, VI, & VIII is incorrect because this is the “doll’s eyes” reflex, used to assess brainstem function in unconscious patients by turning the head and observing eye movement. It does not involve corneal stimulation. D. Oculovestibular reflex; CN III, VII, & VIII is incorrect because this refers to the caloric test (cold water in the ear canal to observe eye movements) to evaluate brainstem integrity. It is unrelated to corneal stimulation.