Glasgow Coma Scale for Patients Without Eyes: Modified Scale & Assessment

If a person has no eyes, the eye opening component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) cannot be accurately assessed. In such cases, a modified GCS (mGCS) can be used, where the eye opening score is replaced by a score for verbal responsiveness.

The mGCS consists of three components:

- Verbal response (V)

V1: No verbal response

V2: Incomprehensible sounds

V3: Inappropriate words

V4: Confused speech

V5: Oriented and able to follow commands

- Motor response (M)

M1: No motor response

M2: Extension to painful stimulus

M3: Flexion to painful stimulus

M4: Withdraws from painful stimulus

M5: Localizes painful stimulus

M6: Obeys commands

- Overall GCS score

The overall GCS score is calculated by adding the scores for verbal and motor responses. The possible range of scores is 3-15, with a higher score indicating a higher level of consciousness.

For example, if a person with no eyes has incomprehensible sounds and no motor response, their mGCS score would be V2M1. This indicates a lower level of consciousness compared to someone with a mGCS score of V4M5.