Most optometrists are very familiar with the cover test. We begin by covering one eye and watching the other. If the uncovered eye moves to take up fixation, we have identified a strabismus. That first observation is fundamental: is there a manifest deviation present, or are the eyes aligned under binocular viewing conditions? If there
The Cover Test Gives Us More Than Direction and Size Read More »
He’s started reading road signs. Not books. Road signs. A mother said this to me recently, almost in passing. Her son had never enjoyed reading. He avoided it when he could, pushed through it when he had to, and often came away from it feeling as though he was the problem. Nothing dramatic had changed
Why Reading Sometimes Begins with Road Signs Read More »
Many optometrists encounter patients whose symptoms persist even when the examination appears normal. This reflection explores how those moments can become an invitation to think more deeply about visual function in clinical practice. Most optometrists will recognise this situation. You have just finished a careful examination.You have taken your time.You have done everything properly. The
When Reassurance Is Not Enough: What to Do When Patients Are Still Struggling Read More »
We all know the Snellen chart isn’t the whole story. Patients can “see 20/20” and still struggle every day. They lose their place reading.They avoid the computer because their eyes tire too quickly.They misjudge distances in sport. These aren’t clarity problems. They’re efficiency problems — how the eyes and brain work together to sustain focus,
Beyond the Eye Chart: Why 20/20 Vision Isn’t the Whole Story Read More »
