Illinois Vision Certification Practice Test

Which condition involves a latent tendency for eye misalignment?

1. Esophoria

2. Strabismus

3. Amblyopia

4. Presbyopia

The correct answer is: Esophoria

Esophoria is a condition where there is a latent tendency for the eyes to be misaligned, specifically with one eye shifting inward. This misalignment is not always present and can be detected through specific tests during an eye examination. In individuals with esophoria, the eye can typically maintain alignment during primary gaze, but there can be a tendency for it to diverge in certain conditions, such as when the person is fatigued, under stress, or focusing on near objects. This latent tendency distinguishes esophoria from other conditions. For instance, strabismus involves a constant misalignment of the eyes, where one eye may turn in, out, up, or down. Amblyopia, often referred to as “lazy eye,” is a condition where one eye does not develop proper vision, but it is related to visual processing rather than eye alignment. Presbyopia is an age-related loss of near vision due to the loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye, which is not related to eye alignment at all. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why esophoria is specifically characterized by a latent tendency toward misalignment rather than a fixed or more severe condition.