What does 'phoria' refer to in terms of eye position?

'Phoria' refers to a condition where the eyes tend to deviate from their normal position, but the misalignment is only apparent when there is a disruption of fusion, such as when one eye is covered. In the context of eye position, phoria indicates a latent tendency for the eyes to move out of alignment when binocular vision is disrupted.

This means that under normal circumstances, with both eyes working together, the visual system can compensate for this tendency, allowing for single, clear vision. However, when testing for phoria, it becomes evident that one eye may shift position due to the absence of the visual input from the other eye.

Unlike conditions of consistent misalignment, which may indicate more severe issues such as strabismus, phoria is usually manageable and often involves resorts like prism correction or vision therapy when necessary. This concept is key in understanding how the eye muscles work together to maintain proper alignment and function in various visual tasks.