Uncover Test
February 4th, 2020
Overview
The uncover test is a useful test for determining the presence of a phoria (intermittent, or latent strabismus).
How to Perform
- Ask the patient to look at an object such as the wall in front of them. Cover one eye using a hand or an opaque cover for a few seconds, and then remove it quickly. Look for movement in the now uncovered eye.
Interpretation
- The uncovered eye moves inward - suggests an exophoria (i.e. the covered eye transiently moves outward when covered then corrects inward on uncovering)
- The uncovered eye moves outward - suggests an esophoria (i.e. the covered eye transiently moves inward when covered then corrects outward on uncovering)
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