Extraocular muscle function testing

You are asked to sit or stand with your head up and looking straight ahead. Your provider will hold a pen or other object about 16 inches or 40 centimeters (cm) in front of your face. The provider will then move the object in several directions and ask you to follow it with your eyes, without moving your head. A test…

No special preparation is necessary for this test.

The test involves only normal movement of the eyes.

This test is performed to evaluate weakness or other problems in the extraocular muscles. These problems may result in double vision or rapid, uncontrolled eye movements .

Normal movement of the eyes in all directions.

Eye movement disorders may be due to abnormalities of the muscles themselves. They may also be due to problems with the nerves that connect to these muscles or in the sections of the brain that control these muscles. Your provider will talk to you about any abnormalities that may be found.

There are no risks associated with this test.

You may have a small amount of uncontrolled eye movement ( nystagmus ) when looking to an extreme left or right position. This is normal.

Cioffi GA, LIebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine . 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 395. Demer JL. Anatomy and physiology of the extraocular muscles and surrounding tissues. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA:…