# Loss of corneal reflex in 112 hospice cancer patients linked to over 70% risk of death within 24 hours

- Published: 2026-11-14 03:17 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: corneal reflex, loss of corneal reflex, death within 24 hours, palliative care, hospice patients, advanced cancer, brainstem, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, Gyeongsang National University, David Hui MD Anderson
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-177f03ddb4da68b6f65d4492_loss_of_corneal/

**In a South Korean study of 112 patients with advanced cancer, an absent corneal reflex went with a high probability of death within a day. The authors say the test helps estimate timing.**

![Loss of corneal reflex in 112 hospice cancer patients linked to over 70% risk of death within 24 hours](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/2fb2495c43fa52d6.webp)
*novinky.cz*

According to novinky.cz, a study in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care reports that loss of the corneal reflex may indicate a critical condition and a high probability of death within 24 hours. [1] The research was led by physician Chong Hun Kang at the hospital of Gyeongsang National University in South Korea. It included 112 hospice patients with advanced cancer. [1]

## How the test was done

Medical staff checked each patient's corneal reflex several times a day by gently touching the eye with a sterile swab. [1] In patients who lost the reflex, the probability of death within the next 24 hours exceeded 70 percent. [1] Their risk of death was more than five times higher than in patients whose reflex was preserved. [1]

The corneal reflex is linked to the activity of the brainstem, the part of the brain that controls basic functions such as breathing and consciousness. Its disappearance may indicate a critical deterioration of health. [1]

## Limits and next steps

The physicians note that the test is not absolutely accurate, but it helps to better estimate the time frame of death, which matters especially for the patient's relatives. [1] Experts stress that the method should be used together with other clinical signs, such as changes in breathing, consciousness and circulation. [1]

Independent experts, including David Hui of the MD Anderson cancer center, call the results promising but point to the need for larger studies. [1] The study so far covers only patients with advanced cancer. The researchers plan to test the method in a broader group of patients with various diseases. [1]

## Sources

1. [novinky.cz](https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/zdravi-ocni-reakce-jednoduchy-test-ktery-predpovi-ze-nemocny-clovek-do-24-hodin-zemre-40607951)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-177f03ddb4da68b6f65d4492_loss_of_corneal/