A detatched retina can have this effect. Generally caused by a traumatic mechanism of injury (ie car crash, fall from height etc) the afflicted pupil can stay 'frozen' leaving it unable to react to changes in light levels. It is also possible to diagnose a brain bleed by checking a potential stroke victims pupils, if they are not equal in size and reactive to light it may be indicative of a problem. This method also works for traumatic head injuries, but is only another item in a long checklist of tests whilst attempting to ascertain a patients condition.