Extraocular Muscles in Eye Care

Extraocular muscles (EOMs) play a crucial role in the precise and coordinated movements of the eyes, which are essential for clear and stable vision. There are six EOMs in each eye: the superior rectus, inferior rectus, lateral rectus, medial rectus, superior oblique, and inferior oblique. These muscles control the movement of the eyeball in various directions, enabling activities such as tracking moving objects, maintaining binocular vision, and stabilizing the visual field during head movements.

Understanding the function and health of these muscles is vital for diagnosing and managing conditions like strabismus, nystagmus, and other ocular motility disorders. Accurate assessment of EOM function is a key component of comprehensive eye exams. This involves evaluating the range of motion, strength, and coordination of the eye movements, which helps in identifying any abnormalities.