The cover test reveals which condition when the left eye is covered and the right eye moves outward to fix on a near object?

The cover test reveals which condition when the left eye is covered and the right eye moves outward to fix on a near object?

• A. Normal ocular alignment
• B. Pseudostrabismus
• C. Left eye strabismus
• D. Right eye strabismus

Answer: (D)

During the cover test, you’re looking for a constant misalignment (tropia) by seeing how the eyes realign when one eye is occluded. If the uncovered eye moves to re-fixate on the target, that indicates a manifest deviation in the covered eye when both eyes are open. Here, with the left eye covered, the right eye moves outward to fix on a near object. An outward movement of the right eye means it has a horizontal deviation toward the outside (exotropia). Therefore, this pattern shows a right eye strabismus. If there were normal alignment, there would be no corrective movement; pseudostrabismus would show no true motor deviation on the test.

During the cover test, you’re looking for a constant misalignment (tropia) by seeing how the eyes realign when one eye is occluded. If the uncovered eye moves to re-fixate on the target, that indicates a manifest deviation in the covered eye when both eyes are open. Here, with the left eye covered, the right eye moves outward to fix on a near object. An outward movement of the right eye means it has a horizontal deviation toward the outside (exotropia). Therefore, this pattern shows a right eye strabismus. If there were normal alignment, there would be no corrective movement; pseudostrabismus would show no true motor deviation on the test.