UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Eye Response Component of GCS

Category: Neurology

Keywords: gcs, glasgow coma scale (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/15/2009 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 12/26/2024)
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Eye function is one of the three neurologic responses assessed by the Glasgow Coma Sacle ( GCS).
This response is scored on a scale of 1 to 4, 4 being the best response.
- 4 = Spontaneous eye opening.
- 3 = Eye opening in response to speech (not to be confused with eye opening in an asleep patient when prompted with speech; these would receive a 4, not a 3).
- 2 = Eye opening with painful stimuli (i.e. nailbed pressure, supraorbital compression, and/or sternal rub).
- 1 = No eye opening.