Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Which condition is characterized by decreased visual acuity that does not improve significantly with corrective lenses?

1. Refractive amblyopia

2. Strabismic amblyopia

3. Functional amblyopia

4. Non-refractive amblyopia

The correct answer is: Strabismic amblyopia

Strabismic amblyopia is characterized by decreased visual acuity that does not improve significantly with corrective lenses. This condition arises when there is a misalignment of the eyes, leading to suppression of vision in one eye to avoid double vision. The brain learns to ignore the input from the misaligned eye, resulting in a loss of visual acuity that other interventions, such as corrective lenses, may not remedy. Although the eyes may be corrected for refractive errors, if the underlying issue of strabismus is present, the amblyopia will persist. In contrast, other types of amblyopia relate differently to visual acuity and correction through lenses. Refractive amblyopia typically occurs due to uncorrected refractive errors and improves significantly with glasses. Functional amblyopia encompasses various causes but usually aligns closely with specific visual function deficits that can potentially improve. Non-refractive amblyopia refers to types of amblyopia that cannot solely be addressed by refractive correction; however, the term is less commonly used in clinical settings. Strabismic amblyopia specifically highlights the link between eye misalignment and persistent vision issues, making it particularly relevant in this context.