Illinois Vision Certification Practice Test

Which of the following is an observable symptom by appearance?

1. Tilting head while reading

2. Crusty or red eyelids

3. Difficulty keeping place while reading

4. Complaints of headaches

The correct answer is: Crusty or red eyelids

The correct answer is based on the characteristic that observable symptoms by appearance are those that can be physically seen or evaluated without requiring the individual to verbalize their experiences or difficulties. Crusty or red eyelids represent a visible physical manifestation that can be directly observed during an examination. In contrast, tilting the head while reading, though it may indicate a visual issue, is more of a behavioral symptom and does not provide a clear indication of a medical condition just from appearance alone. Difficulty keeping place while reading is a subjective experience that may suggest a problem but cannot be seen; it requires the individual's self-reporting to identify it. Complaints of headaches are entirely reported symptoms and depend on verbal communication, making them non-observable by mere appearance. Therefore, crusty or red eyelids are observable symptoms that directly relate to eye health and can indicate underlying conditions simply by their visual presence.