Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Exam. Prepare with insightful quizzes and multiple-choice questions that will enhance your understanding of ophthalmic technology. Get ready for your certification with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the primary effect of the YAG laser’s wavelength on tissue?

Destruction of tissue
Photocoagulation
Thermal coagulation response
Direct tissue vaporization

The correct answer is: Thermal coagulation response

The primary effect of the YAG laser’s wavelength on tissue is to induce a thermal coagulation response. YAG lasers, particularly the Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) variety, emit light at a wavelength that penetrates tissues and is absorbed by chromophores (such as water, hemoglobin, and melanin) within the tissue. This absorption results in localized heating, which leads to denaturation of proteins and subsequent coagulation of the surrounding tissue. The thermal coagulation response is critical in various medical and surgical applications, where controlled heating is necessary to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues while effectively treating the targeted area. This property allows the YAG laser to be used in procedures like laser lithotripsy, vascular treatments, and various types of soft tissue surgery. Understanding this mechanism is essential for practitioners to effectively apply laser technology while ensuring patient safety and optimizing outcomes in clinical settings.