Examining The External Eye - The Eye Examination: The Aging Eye Preventing And Treating Eye Disease
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Examining the external eye
The doctor examines the outer eye — the lids, lashes, and orbit — and looks for signs of any underlying problems, such as infections, sties, cysts, tumors, or lid muscle weakness. The doctor then checks your eyeball's appearance (including the sclera and conjunctiva) and notes whether the pupil reacts normally to light.
Checking the coordination of the six muscles in each eye is an important part of the exam. Tests may vary, but the goal is to ensure that your eyes function properly together.
| Last updated: | June 19, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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