Basic Eye Examination Tutorials

Last updated: October 2026

Good examination technique is easiest to learn by watching it done well, then practising immediately. These free, reliable resources from leading teaching centres cover the core bedside eye examination skills.

• Moran CORE (University of Utah) – Basic Ophthalmology Review: performing the pupillary exam, RAPD, using a direct ophthalmoscope and examining the red reflex
• Stanford Medicine 25: fundoscopic examination (with video) and pupillary responses
• On RPC Rounds: pupil examination, RAPD grading and pharmacological tests, and history-taking and examination order

Why a structured basic exam sequence matters

Even experienced examiners benefit from a consistent, systematic sequence — it reduces the chance of missing a step under time pressure and makes findings easier to communicate to colleagues in a standard order:

• History and presenting complaint, including relevant systemic history
• Visual acuity (distance and near), with and without pinhole
• Pupil examination, including relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) testing where relevant
• Extraocular motility and alignment (cover test)
• Confrontation visual fields
• Anterior segment examination by slit lamp — lids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, iris, lens
• Intraocular pressure measurement
• Dilated fundus examination — optic disc, macula, vessels, peripheral retina

How to get the most from short video tutorials like this

Short, technique-focused videos work best watched immediately before performing that specific exam component yourself — rather than binge-watching the whole series once. Revisit the specific video for a technique you're about to practice (e.g., cover test, or slit lamp technique) right before clinic, so the visual detail is fresh when you need it.