University of Iowa Health Care

Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

EyeRounds.org

Cover test

Richard C. Allen, MD, PhD, FACS
Additional Notes: Length 00:50

In the cover test, the examiner is determining if the patient has a tropia or not.  The eye is covered with an occluder and then uncovered.  During this maneuver, each eye is examined closely to see if there is any horizontal or vertical movement.  The patient should have a fixation target during this test.  For the alternate cover test, the examiner is determining if the patient has a phoria or not.  Again, each eye should be examined closely for any horizontal or vertical movement as the occluder is moved from one eye to the other.  The patient should wear their glasses, and for adults the Snellen chart works well for fixation. 


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December 19, 2016

last updated: 01/12/2017
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