Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam

If poor vision is simply due to refractive error, the acuity should improve with the use of what?

1. Contact lenses

2. Pinhole

3. Glasses

4. Magnifying glass

The correct answer is: Pinhole

Improving visual acuity that is diminished solely due to refractive error can effectively be achieved by utilizing a pinhole. This method works by allowing only the central rays of light to enter the eye, which can reduce the scattering of light caused by refractive errors. By narrowing the aperture, the pinhole technique effectively enhances the depth of focus, leading to clearer vision. This is particularly useful in clinical settings to assess the potential improvement in vision that might be attained with corrective lenses. While contact lenses and glasses are commonly used to correct refractive errors, the question focuses on immediate improvements in visual acuity as demonstrated in a clinical evaluation. A magnifying glass is typically used for near vision tasks or to assist in seeing details, rather than for correcting refractive errors across various distances. Therefore, using a pinhole is a straightforward way to determine the extent of correctable vision issues due to refraction anomalies.