The entering axons are arranged into three roots which join enter the posterior surface of the ganglion: Exiting from the anterior surface of the ciliary ganglion are the short ciliary nerves which contain the sensory, postganglionic sympathetic and postganglionic parasympathetic axons to the eye.

She noted that pathological destruction of nerve cells in the ciliary ganglion that is found in all cases of Adie pupil.

Anything that denervates the ciliary ganglion will produce a tonic pupil due to aberrant nerve regeneration.

Adie syndrome is a fairly common, benign, idiopathic neuropathy that selectively affects the ciliary ganglion and the spinal cord neurons involved in deep tendon reflex arcs.

Early in the course of Adie syndrome (when the cells of the ciliary ganglion have been destroyed, but before regeneration has occurred) the pupil will be fixed and dilated.

With aberrant nerve regeneration, the pupil will remain fixed, but it will constrict with attempted near vision.

In Adie syndrome, damage involving the ciliary ganglion manifests light-near dissociation and a tonically dilated pupil (usually on the same side).

Other causes of light-near dissociation involve damage to the brainstem,[citation needed] where a tonic pupil is not produced.

Brainstem causes of light-near dissociation include Argyll Robertson pupil and Parinaud syndrome.