Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

The cover/uncover test is primarily used to screen for which condition?

1. Color blindness

2. Strabismus

3. Visual acuity

4. Cataracts

The correct answer is: Strabismus

The cover/uncover test is primarily designed to screen for strabismus, which is a condition where the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. This test assesses the presence of misalignment by covering one eye and then the other while observing the movement of the uncovered eye. If the uncovered eye moves to re-align with the target when the other eye is covered, this indicates the presence of strabismus. In contrast, color blindness is evaluated through different tests that assess an individual’s ability to perceive colors and not through the cover/uncover test. Visual acuity is typically measured with an eye chart rather than this type of alignment test. Cataracts involve the clouding of the lens, which is also assessed differently, often through visual acuity tests or examination of the eye's internal structures rather than aligning tests. Thus, the cover/uncover test's specific focus on eye alignment makes it a reliable screening tool for detecting strabismus.