Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) Practice Test 2025 - Free COT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Streak retinoscopy is a valuable technique primarily used to assess refractive error in a patient’s eyes. During this process, a streak light is projected into the eye, and the examiner observes the reflection of light off the retina through the pupil. The movement and nature of the light reflex help the examiner determine whether the patient is myopic (nearsighted), hyperopic (farsighted), or has astigmatism, thereby accurately measuring the refractive error.

Refractive error measurement is essential for the prescription of corrective lenses, which can significantly improve a patient's visual acuity. This technique allows for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of refractive errors by observing the behavior of the light reflex as it changes when the examiner adjusts the lens placed in front of the patient’s eye.

In contrast, visual field loss is concerned with the peripheral vision capabilities of the eye, lens opacity refers to cataracts affecting the clarity of the lens, and intraocular pressure is a measure related to glaucoma risk. These areas, while important components of an eye examination, do not pertain to the assessment of refractive error, which is the primary focus of streak retinoscopy.