What is the finger eye test?
Asked by: Mittie Collins | Last update: February 11, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (63 votes)
The "follow finger with eyes" test, also known as the Smooth Pursuit or Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, checks how well your eyes move together, assessing coordination and neurological function by having you track a moving finger (or pen) left/right and up/down, looking for smooth movement versus jerking (nystagmus) or lagging, common indicators of alcohol/drug influence or brain injury like concussion. Doctors use it for neurological issues, while police use it as a Field Sobriety Test (FST) for DUI stops to spot intoxication cues like early onset of nystagmus.
What is the finger test for eyes?
You will be asked to look directly at an object in front of you, (such as the doctor's nose) while one of your eyes is covered. Your doctor may hold up different numbers of fingers in areas of your side vision field and ask how many you see as you look at the target in front of you.
Why do doctors ask you to follow their finger?
To examine smooth pursuit, they ask a patient to follow their finger as it moves to the left or right and back again, or from top to bottom and back again. Pursuit is a slow, smooth eye movement to capture the target with the fovea (i.e., central vision), and it can be assessed relatively reliably at the bedside.
Is a VNG test painful?
No, a VNG (Videonystagmography) test is not painful, but it can cause temporary dizziness, nausea, or imbalance as it stimulates the inner ear to check your balance system. You'll wear special goggles and follow lights, and warm/cool air might be used in your ears, leading to brief sensations of vertigo or lightheadedness, but these effects are temporary and resolve quickly. It's non-invasive, so plan for someone to drive you home just in case, as the dizziness can be significant during the test.
What does 6 6 and 6 9 mean for an eye test?
In eye exams using the Snellen chart, 6/6 vision is considered normal, meaning you see at 6 meters what an average person sees at 6 meters (like 20/20 in feet). 6/9 vision means you see at 6 meters what a person with normal vision sees at 9 meters, indicating slightly reduced sharpness, but often doesn't require glasses unless needed for specific tasks like driving or reading fine print.
Visual Field Testing - OSCE Guide (Clip) | UKMLA | CPSA | PLAB 2
Is 6'6 vision ok for driving?
You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
Which is better, 6 9 or 6 6?
In short, 6/6 is ideal vision, while 6/9 indicates minor vision impairment, which might be improved with glasses or contact lenses.
What happens if you fail a VNG test?
If your VNG results were not normal, it may mean you have a disorder of the vestibular system in your inner ear. The disorder may be in one or both ears. Your provider can explain what type of disorder you may have. You may need more tests, including other balance tests, to confirm your diagnosis.
How much does a VNG test cost?
Using the average Medicare reimbursement for VNG, the cost effectiveness analysis showed a cost of $869.57 per VNG with abnormal findings and a cost of $5454.55 per VNG that lead to a change in diagnosis and treatment plan. Conclusions: VNG findings may not result in changes in clinical diagnosis.
Is a VNG test worth it?
Accurate diagnosis through vestibular VNG testing offers significant benefits for your treatment. You'll receive a precise evaluation of your balance system, which can help differentiate between conditions like otitis media and more serious infections that may require emergency department care.
What health problems can an eye test detect?
Not only can eye tests detect eye conditions, such as glaucoma, years before you notice a change in your vision, but they can also uncover signs of health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
What does it mean if you can't follow a finger with your eyes?
Oculomotor dysfunction occurs when there is a neurological event that interferes with the brain's ability to coordinate the movement of the eyes. This results in an inability for your eyes to follow, fixate, or move from spot to spot accurately.
Why do doctors ask you to squeeze their fingers?
Motor system and strength testing studies muscle strength, muscle tone and involuntary movements to see whether nerves and muscles are working right. Tests include pushing or pulling against the examiner's hands, squeezing the examiner's fingers, or moving your limbs as directed.
Can a brain tumor affect vision field?
A tumor here can cause various sight issues, including blurred vision, sensitivity to light, or blind spots in your visual field.
How to tell if your vision is 20-40?
You know you have 20/40 vision if you can see clearly at 20 feet what a person with normal vision (20/20) can see clearly from 40 feet away, meaning distant objects appear slightly blurry, like reading street signs or movie subtitles, and the smallest line you can read on a Snellen eye chart is the 20/40 line, though a professional eye exam is needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Why do doctors do the follow my finger test?
One of the most common tests in this space isn't high-tech machinery or invasive testing—it's simply asking a patient to “follow the finger.” This seemingly basic instruction taps into complex neural networks responsible for smooth pursuit eye movements, and when disrupted, can signal underlying brain dysfunction.
Is vertigo 100% curable?
The bright side — Vertigo is often curable. Variants like BPPV and vestibular neuritis can be permanently cured, while others can be controlled with proper treatment. The key is proper diagnosis—persistent dizziness should not be overlooked.
What is the eye test for vertigo?
Electronystagmography (ENG or electrooculography) is used to evaluate people with vertigo (a false sense of spinning or motion that can cause dizziness) and certain other disorders that affect hearing and vision. Electrodes are placed at locations above and below the eye to record electrical activity.
Is vertigo an ENT or neurologist?
For vertigo, start with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) or an ENT (Otolaryngologist) for inner ear issues (like BPPV, Meniere's), but see a Neurologist if you have neurological symptoms (headaches, numbness, vision changes) or persistent, complex vertigo, as it could be central (brain-related). Often, it's a team effort, with ENTs diagnosing ear problems and referring to neurologists for brain issues, or vice versa, sometimes involving audiologists and physical therapists.
What kind of doctor does a VNG test?
An audiologist or other healthcare providers who specialize in hearing loss or balance issues may do this test. You may have this test if you have symptoms like: A sense that the world is spinning around you.
What is the 60-60 rule in audiology?
The 60/60 rule for hearing is a guideline to prevent noise-induced hearing loss by listening to personal audio devices at no more than 60% of the maximum volume for no longer than 60 minutes at a time, followed by a break, to protect the delicate hair cells in your inner ear from damage. This simple practice helps avoid the irreversible damage caused by prolonged exposure to loud sounds from headphones and earbuds, with common issues being hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
How do I know if my dizziness is related to my eyes?
You know dizziness might be eye-related if it's triggered by visual input (patterns, screens, reading), accompanied by eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, difficulty focusing (especially near/far), or balance issues when moving your head, often stemming from eye misalignment or focusing problems like Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) or nystagmus. A comprehensive eye exam is crucial to diagnose vision-related dizziness.
How to improve retina naturally?
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help support your retinal health:
- Regular dilated eye exams. ...
- Eat plenty of vitamin and nutrient-rich foods. ...
- Quit smoking. ...
- Control blood sugar, pressure and cholesterol. ...
- Know your family history. ...
- Protect your eyes from UV rays.
What is the best vision you can have?
Many people, mostly children, have better than 20/20 vision. Healthy eyes can easily go down to the 20/15 level with some accuracy. So then, what is perfect? In truth, nothing that the human eye can achieve – and possibly nothing at all.
How to improve eyesight in one month?
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a wide range of nutrient-rich foods for eyesight improvement can help maintain optimal eye health. Essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, and selenium, along with carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, can protect against age-related eye disorders and blue light damage.