Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam

Which test is used to compare the direct and consensual responses to light?

1. Visual acuity test

2. Swinging flashlight test

3. Pupil size measurement

4. Fundoscopy

The correct answer is: Swinging flashlight test

The swinging flashlight test is specifically designed to evaluate both the direct and consensual responses of the pupils to light. During this test, a light source is moved quickly from one eye to the other, allowing the observer to assess how each pupil reacts both when light is shone directly into it and when light is moved away to the other eye. When light is directed into one eye, that eye's pupil will constrict (direct response), while the opposite pupil should also constrict (consensual response). If there's any difference in the reaction between the two pupils, it may indicate an afferent pupillary defect. Visual acuity tests primarily assess the sharpness of vision and do not provide information about pupillary response. Pupil size measurement can indicate resting pupil size but does not evaluate the response to light. Fundoscopy, used to examine the interior structures of the eye, does not assess pupillary reactions either. Therefore, the swinging flashlight test is specifically tailored for comparing how each pupil responds to light stimuli, making it the correct choice for this question.