Cover Test

Cover Test: Determines whether the eyes align as expected or deviate from normal. Measures presence, type, and amount of deviation compared to the expected normal. It is measured with a distance and near fixation. Used to identify types of deviation. Tropias-can be constant or present intermittently. Phorias that only occur when fusion breaks. 

If you are performing this procedure at your office, you will need an occluder and to be able to identify normal vs. abnormal. Abnormal is going to be if there's any type of deviation present all of the time while you're looking at the patient or while breaking fusion. 

"Mrs. Davis, the cover test will assess how well your eyes work together in a synchronized, binocular fashion."

To document a cover test within your EHR you will have to document for both distance and near fixations, and whether or not there is any type of deviation, and if it was present with or without correction.

Common patient responses on this particular test: some patients may state that this test hurts their eyes or makes their eyes feel a little bit funny. I will remind the patient that this test is to identify if there are any eye teaming issues and that we'll let the doctor take another look during the exam.