The prism cover test is an eye alignment test used to measure how much one eye is turned relative to the other. It combines an occluder (a cover) with prisms to quantify misalignment in prism diopters. It is commonly performed in optometry and ophthalmology clinics during strabismus and binocular vision evaluations. It is used in children and adults, including people with double vision, suspected eye turns, or post-surgical follow-up.

The alternate cover test is an eye alignment test used in eye exams. It checks whether the eyes are pointing in the same direction or drifting. Clinicians use it commonly in optometry and ophthalmology clinics to assess strabismus (eye misalignment). It can be done in children and adults as part of a routine vision and binocular-vision evaluation.

The cover test is a basic eye alignment exam used to detect and measure misalignment of the eyes. It helps clinicians see whether one eye turns in, out, up, or down compared with the other. It is commonly used in optometry and ophthalmology clinics during routine eye exams and strabismus evaluations. It is also widely used in pediatric eye care to assess binocular vision (how the two eyes work together).

extraocular movements are the controlled movements of the eyes in different directions. They are produced by six extraocular muscles attached to each eye. Clinicians check extraocular movements during routine eye exams and neurologic evaluations. They help describe how well the eyes move and work together.

The swinging flashlight test is a quick eye exam used to assess how each optic nerve and retina respond to light. It compares the pupils’ light reactions between the two eyes. It is commonly used in optometry and ophthalmology clinics, emergency settings, and neuro-ophthalmology evaluations.

A pupil exam is a set of simple checks that evaluate how the pupils look and respond to light and focusing. It is commonly performed during routine eye exams, urgent eye visits, and neurologic assessments. The goal is to learn how well the eye and nervous system pathways controlling the pupil are functioning. It can be done with a light, and sometimes with special measuring devices or dilating drops.

central corneal thickness (CCT) is a measurement of how thick the cornea is at its center. The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped front window of the eye. CCT is commonly measured during eye exams to help interpret other findings. It is used in both routine vision care and specialty ophthalmology clinics.

pachymetry is the measurement of corneal thickness. It is most commonly used in eye clinics to evaluate the cornea and to help interpret eye pressure readings. It can be performed with contact (ultrasound) or non-contact (optical) devices. The results are usually reported as a thickness value and, in some systems, a thickness map.

intraocular pressure (IOP) is the pressure created by fluid inside the eye. It is measured during routine eye exams and many urgent eye evaluations. It is most commonly discussed in glaucoma care, but it also matters in other eye conditions. It is one piece of information that clinicians interpret alongside the optic nerve exam and other tests.

non-contact tonometry is a method of measuring eye pressure without touching the eye. It is often called an “air-puff test” because it uses a brief puff of air. It is commonly used in optometry and ophthalmology clinics during routine eye exams. It helps clinicians estimate intraocular pressure, which is one factor in glaucoma care.

iCare tonometry is a method for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP), the fluid pressure inside the eye. It uses a small, lightweight probe that briefly touches the cornea to estimate eye pressure. It is commonly used in eye clinics, emergency settings, and pediatric exams. Some iCare tonometry devices are also designed for supervised home monitoring in selected patients.

Goldmann applanation tonometry is a clinical test that measures intraocular pressure (IOP), the fluid pressure inside the eye. It works by gently flattening a small area of the cornea (the clear front window of the eye). It is most commonly performed at a slit lamp in an optometry or ophthalmology clinic. It is widely used when evaluating glaucoma risk and monitoring known glaucoma.

tonometry is a test that measures pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure (IOP). It is commonly performed during routine eye exams in optometry and ophthalmology clinics. The measurement helps clinicians assess risk and monitor diseases that affect the optic nerve. Results are available immediately, and the test is often repeated over time.

The van Herick test is a quick slit-lamp screening method used to estimate how “open” the drainage angle of the eye may be. It compares the depth of the peripheral anterior chamber (the fluid-filled space near the cornea) to the thickness of the cornea. It is commonly used in optometry and ophthalmology exams, especially when assessing risk for narrow angles and angle-closure glaucoma. It does not diagnose glaucoma by itself, but it can help decide if further testing is needed.

Shaffer grading is a clinical scale used to describe how open or narrow the eye’s drainage angle is. It is most commonly recorded during gonioscopy, an exam where a clinician views the angle using a special contact lens and microscope. The grading helps summarize a key glaucoma-related finding in a standardized way. In plain terms, it estimates how much “space” exists where eye fluid drains.

gonioscopy is an eye exam technique used to look at the drainage angle inside the front of the eye. It helps clinicians assess how fluid exits the eye and whether the angle is open, narrow, or blocked. It is commonly used in glaucoma evaluation and in patients at risk for angle-closure. It is performed in ophthalmology and optometry clinics, typically at a slit lamp.

scleral depression is a clinical technique used during an eye exam to better see the far edges of the retina. A clinician gently presses on the outside of the eye (through the eyelid or conjunctiva) while looking inside with special viewing tools. It is most commonly used with a dilated exam to evaluate the peripheral retina for tears, holes, or detachment. It can be done in clinic and also during some retinal surgeries.

indirect ophthalmoscopy is an eye examination technique used to view the inside back portion of the eye, especially the retina. It uses a bright light and a handheld lens to create a wide view of retinal tissue. It is commonly used by ophthalmologists and optometrists in clinics, emergency settings, and during surgical care. It helps clinicians evaluate conditions that can affect vision and overall eye health.

direct ophthalmoscopy is an eye examination method that lets a clinician look at the back of the eye through the pupil. It uses a handheld instrument called a direct ophthalmoscope with a light and focusing lenses. It is commonly used in eye clinics, primary care, emergency settings, and bedside examinations. It provides an immediate, magnified view of key retinal structures.

ophthalmoscopy is an eye examination method used to look at the inside of the eye through the pupil. It helps clinicians assess the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels at the back of the eye. It is commonly used in routine eye exams and in urgent evaluations of vision symptoms. It is a diagnostic exam, not a treatment.