Medical History and Physical Exam for NearsightednessTopic OverviewDuring an exam for nearsightedness , your doctor will ask questions about your health, lifestyle, medicines you are taking, and past eye problems. Answers to questions about your family members can help determine whether you may have inherited eye problems. When a child is too young to be aware of blurred vision (younger than age 7 or 8), the doctor commonly asks the parents questions such as those listed below. The answers may help the doctor know whether the child is nearsighted.
After about age 8, most children can usually describe the blurred vision caused by the start of nearsightedness, so these questions may not be needed as much. Physical examThe doctor inspects the eyelids and other external parts of the eye for signs of disease. Nearsightedness rarely has external signs. To look for problems with the muscles that control movement of the eyeball, the doctor will ask the person to look in different directions (such as up and down). In a child, severe nearsightedness in one eye can sometimes cause amblyopia (lazy eye). Jerky movements of the eyes (nystagmus) may be seen in children who have poor vision. Related InformationCredits
ByHealthwise Staff Current as ofDecember 3, 2017
Current as of: December 3, 2017 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology |
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